This speech was written for the audience involved with the launch of the CEO Sleepout event; business leaders, the media, charity-minded publics. It addresses issues that are directly involved with those attending and engage other stakeholders in participating. This has potential to provide maximum impact in getting the message communicated – it uses repetition and provides one on one understanding about how lives are directly impacted by St Vincents efforts and how the donating public influences this through appropriate generosity.
We all share a few things in common.
We wake, we eat, we sleep.
All of us, no matter what our circumstances, what walk of life we come from, there is this commonality that comes with being human. Connecting us all.
However in the world we live in today - what we do and how we spend the hours in between, these three common traits, can be so varied.
For most of us, we wake to something exciting, enjoy the choices we get to make about what we will do, where and what we will eat – and at the end of the day, most of us will enjoy the comfort of our bedrooms and rest we get.
For some of us, this is not guaranteed…..
There are those who do not have easy access to these common resources, or these common choices, that so many of us believe to be available and entrusted to all.
It is here, at the CEO sleepout, that we are reminded of the struggle that is faced by the disadvantaged and especially, by the homeless.
St Vincent De Paul works around the clock to raise funds, provide services and give support to those who are in need. We are able to do this because of the hard working volunteers , the funds that are raised through events like these but mainly, through the donations provided by the public and organizations of Australia.
It is thanks to this generosity that we are able to provide food to those who are hungry, beds to those who are without and a safe place to wake up to every morning.
However, the level of support we are able to provide is being compromised by the quality of donations that are being left at our donation bins and collection centres.
Rubbish, soiled/useless items and weather damaged beds are being dumped and the cost of clearing them is incurred by St Vincents. Last year alone, we spent over one million dollars removing and cleaning up debris that was left at these sites – that is one million dollars that could have gone to assisting individuals and families that are in desperate need of help.
Our request is simple – if you are considering donation – Ask yourself – is this re-usable or is it rubbish?
Keep your donated items and bedding protected from weather exposure.
Leave the donation in a safe place – make sure it gets to the right people.
Following these simple steps can mean the world of difference to us and to the people who are benefiting from our help.
Just think about how you could improve environment to which they wake, the food they eat and the place they sleep.
Thank you.