A community can celebrate its volunteers without making exhaustion the price of recognition.

Praise tends to go to whoever gave the most hours, and everyone watching learns the rate of exchange. Recognition attached to depletion tells the moderate helpers their contribution does not count, and tells the exhausted one that stopping would cost them their standing. Groups then lose people in both directions, one to burnout and one to quiet withdrawal.

If you are thanking people, name the specific thing done rather than the hours it took. Thank someone who helped a little. And if a volunteer looks worn out, offer relief rather than a certificate.