United Way Speech Outline
Introduction: Introduce yourself by name, then briefly explain your relationship to Foodshare – if you
are a volunteer, be sure to say so!
“I’m here today because Foodshare could never do the enormous scope of work that it does without the
support of organizations like United Way. Let me tell you why…”
The Problem of Hunger
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Over 137,000 people in Greater Hartford seek food assistance each year (13% of the population).
1 in 5 children are affected by hunger, not knowing where their next meal will come from.
Hunger affects everyone—if you are not personally struggling with hunger, you are certainly
paying for the consequences. Under-nutrition causes a host of health and education problems that
cost the people of Greater Hartford almost half a billion dollars a year.*
The Solution to Hunger
1. Provide food for today—11.5 million meals worth each year, and growing:
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Mobile Foodshare: This rapid delivery program uses converted beverage trucks to bring
perishable food items such as highly nutritious fruits and vegetables to people in low income
neighborhoods who need it most.
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Retail Pick-Up: This program deploys volunteers to local retail stores, traditionally not a part of
the food banking system, to recover surplus food and take it directly to a local food pantry.
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SNAP: Volunteers help individuals apply for SNAP benefits (aka food stamps). Every dollar
provided through SNAP, frees up more of our donated food for those who may not qualify for such
benefits.
2. Reduce the number of people who need long-term help—while it’s important to keep our hungry
neighbors strong and healthy, it’s just as important to help them move beyond food assistance:
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The Freshplace Model: Visitors to the Freshplace pantry are paired with a case manager who
helps connect them with resources like job training, computer literacy, and financial planning.
This model has proven to be successful and is now being shared with our entire network of partner
programs.
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Advocacy: We always advocates for legislation that will improve the lives of those we serve,
regardless of which party or politician proposes them. And since big change requires a big voice,
we engage as many people as possible in that effort.
Conclusion: “United Way provides support for all of these incredible programs, which is why I’m here
today to ask you to support the United Way Campaign. Your donations will help to ensure Foodshare and
our many community partners can continue this vital work that helps so many local families.”
Or you can visit www.foodshare.org to learn more or get involved in the fight against hunger.
*This information comes from a 2010 study done by researchers at Brandeis University and the Federal Reserve.