Speech 20
4/20/12
The Positive Impact of Volunteering
The world is filled with problems and it needs volunteers to join together to help tackle and solve these problems.
I.
A. One day I was going to the beach with my sister and her kids. We go out of the car and ran towards the beach. When we got there we saw that the beach was filled with litter and broken bottles everywhere. The beach was so filthy we decided to head back home. Needless to say, the kids were not happy. We all were so upset and we said that “someone should do something about it”. After thinking it over I realized that I could be that “someone to do something”. On that day I decided that I should volunteer to clean up that beach. That memorable day at the beach or rather not at the beach motivated me to volunteer.
B. I have volunteered for many organizations that undertook many different causes. I know from a decade of experience that the benefits of volunteering are numerous and far outweigh the cons.
C. The world is filled with problems and it needs volunteers to join together to help tackle and solve these problems
D. Volunteering isn’t only beneficial for the community it also beneficial for you the volunteer.
E. It is true that there are many problems that affect our communities. This may seem overwhelming but you are not powerless. If you take on just one cause and devote just one hour to volunteer you will have a positive impact on society.
II.
A. There are many issues that affect society and the government doesn’t have the resources or the funding to resolve them. Organizations and charities undertake the issues that the government can’t or won’t try to resolve.
B. Organizations and charities don’t have the funding or the manpower to confront the never ending issues that affect society, such as, poverty, natural disasters, and disease.
1. Many people are poverty stricken as a result will not be able to afford groceries and will go days without a meal.
2. Natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes, tornados strike suddenly and when they impact communities these natural disasters often leave people without shelter, food and with serious injuries.
3. Many diseases are on the brink of a cure but because scientist and doctors lack funding for research the cure is delayed.
C.
1. Poverty impacts millions of people in the United States.
a. The U.S. 2010 census reported that 46.9 million people were living in poverty.1
b. Poverty impacts 14-16 million children living in the U.S.1
2. Natural disasters are at increasing in the U.S. and the world.
a. Approximately 2.6 billion people were affected by natural disasters over the past ten years, compared to 1.6 billion the previous decade.2
b. There were 2,018 fatalities and 5,326 injuries related to weather events from 2005 to 2006.2
3. There are many diseases, however breast cancer is particularly fatal for women.
a. In 2012, approximately 39,520 women are expected to die from breast cancer. Only lung cancer accounts for more cancer deaths in women.3
D. Without volunteers most organizations and charities would not be able to provide services, help, or even reach people who are in need. Without volunteers impoverished people would go hungry, natural disasters would debilitate communities and diseases could reach epidemic levels.
III.
A. The solution for diminishing these crises are volunteers joining together to become a powerful force to confront and eliminates these crisis.
B. When volunteers join organizations they help these organizations fulfill a need for the community. Organizations use volunteers to distribute food, give aid and raise money.
1. Organizations rely on volunteers to help feed the homeless and distribute groceries to those in need. When people volunteer at a food bank, homeless shelter, and/or soup kitchen they can provide meals to people who would otherwise starve.
2. Organizations rely on volunteers to give aid to those affected by natural disasters. Most