HOW TO NOTIFY LOCAL MEDIA
Another great way to spread awareness of Blessings in a Backpack to a wide audience is through the media. In the event that a local policymaker or celebrity has interest in becoming involved with your program, even if that means attending a backpacking event, his/her attendance is a great “media hook” that you should utilize.
You can do so by sending a media advisory to local TV, radio, and newspapers news desks, and features or education reporters two-to-three days before the event; follow up with a phone call. Be sure to take pictures at your event with the local person of interest and provide these to any newspaper outlets and local TV slideshows afterward as well. On the next page is an outline of a media advisory for your use.
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MEDIA ADVISORY Contact:
Month XX, 201X Name
Phone
<INSERT POLICYMAKER/CELEBRITY NAME JOINS VOLUNTEERS TO STUFF BACKPACKS WITH FOOD FOR LOCAL CHILDREN LIVING WITH FOOD INSECURITY
Through Blessings in a Backpack, Volunteers Provide Food for Children at Insert School Name 38 Weekends Throughout the School Year
WHAT: Volunteers from the Blessings in a Backpack program at Insert School Name will be joined by Insert Policymaker/Celebrity Name to pull together ### backpacks full of food for students living with food insecurity this week. Blessings in a Backpack is a nonprofit that works with volunteers across the country to collect and pack backpacks with food, distributing them on Fridays to children who qualify for the federally-funded National School Lunch Program to take home on the weekends.
WHEN: Thursday, Month XX, 201X
Start time – End Time
WHERE: Location
Address
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About Blessings in a Backpack: Hunger has both short- and long-term negative affects on children’s health and ability to succeed in school. Blessings in a Backpack is a results-oriented 501(c)(3) program dedicated to ensuring that elementary school children living with food insecurity in the United States are fed over weekends. Blessings in a Backpack currently feeds more than 78,000 children across 45 states in over 800 schools. For more information visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org.
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