PROJECT HEAT VOLUNTEER HUB

Thank You for Helping to Keep Your Neighbors Warm This Winter

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Project Heat phone script

“Good (Morning, Afternoon, Evening), This is [__________] for NEWS CENTER Maine’s Project Heat.  How may I help you?”

“Would you like to use a credit card to make your donation?”

Open your browser to https://uwsme.org/heat and complete the transaction. Donors may also choose to enter the information themselves on the secure site: keepmewarm.org 

  • Select the donation amount. There is a field to enter any amount labelled “Enter an amount.”
  • First name, last name, email, and zip code are required to process a donation. 
    • You must input an email address. This is required for all credit card donations. If a donor refuses, tell them that it is required and their email address won’t be used for anything except for a tax letter. If they continue to refuse, you may, as a last resort, use the email address format: [donorfirstname].[donorlastname].warm@email.com, for example: john.doe.warm@email.com. Please only use this if they refuse twice, though.
  • If the donor requests to be anonymous, reassure them that all donors are treated as anonymous and names are never shared publicly. 
  • DO NOT write down the credit card number or repeat it back to the person.
  • If you forgot a field or take too long, the form can “time out”, and you’ll have to retype the payment information. Please apologize and have the donor give their information again.
  • Once you submit the donation, you will get a confirmation page. Close the out the donation form and open a new one (click here) to be ready for the next call. 

“Your credit card statement will reflect United Way as the charge. ”  

“Thank you for your support! Goodbye.”

Make checks payable to United Way of Southern Maine and mail to:

Keep ME Warm
c/o United Way of Southern Maine
550 Forest Avenue, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101

NOTE: Please record donors name and amount so that we can include it in the final tally in this form: Check Form

Those needing information about fuel assistance should call 2-1-1 Maine by dialing 2-1-1 or texting their zip code to 898-211. 2-1-1 will share information on heating assistance and weatherization services in their area. 2-1-1 Maine is a statewide health and human services information and referral service created by the United Ways of Maine, in partnership with The Opportunity Alliance and the State of Maine.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please be set up and ready to go 15 mins before your volunteer time. We will switch out phone numbers (the public will never have your number) at the shift change, so it will be helpful if you are ready to go. Lag time at the end of your shift could last up to 15 mins as we switch out the phone numbers. Have your chargers for laptops and cell phones ready to go.

Visit United Way of Southern Maine’s social media channels and reshare the latest post on Project Heat! You can also take a picture of yourself on the phone during your shift and encourage your friends to call into the telethon. Use hashtag #ProjectHeat or tag @uswme!

Write down their name and number to reach them. Tell them someone will call them back. Email eagnew@uwsme.org the caller’s name, number, and question, and we can call them back for you.

From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dead River Company will match up to $20,000 of viewers’ donations.

Project Heat was designed by NEWS CENTER Maine with United Way to help Mainers in need during this winter’s heating season. All the money raised from Project Heat will go to the Keep ME Warm fund.

Yes. Callers should consult with their tax professional for questions about individual deductions, etc. 

The Keep ME Warm fund was established in 2008 and is a statewide partnership of the seven United Ways in Maine and the 10 Community Action Programs to supplement fuel assistance programs. Donations are distributed through a formula based on federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) percentages and population, and are used to assist individuals directly, or designated to local organizations that provide emergency fuel assistance, including faith-based programs and nonprofit agencies.

Your donations to Keep ME Warm will provide emergency heating assistance. Community Action Programs will use the funds to help households with fuel assistance that may not be eligible for limited federal, state or local fuel assistance programs. United Ways and 211 Maine will use the funds to support additional organizations and agencies that can help those in need of fuel assistance.

Yes. To cover the cost of processing donations and distributing the funds throughout Maine, there is a 5% fee on donations.

Those in need of information about fuel assistance should call 2-1-1 Maine by dialing 2-1-1 or texting their zip code to 898-211. 2-1-1 will share information on heating assistance and weatherization services in their area. 2-1-1 Maine is a statewide health and human services information and referral service created by the United Ways of Maine, in partnership with The Opportunity Alliance and the State of Maine.

Due to the number of donations coming in within a short period of time, occasionally a credit card company will flag that something unusual is happening and start declining transactions. Unfortunately, that a decision that happens on the credit company’s end, and it is fully out of our control. If you’re on a phone with a donor and this happens, follow these steps:

  • Try entering and submitting the information one more time, in case a typo was made.
  • If the donation still doesn’t process, reassure the donor that it is simply a safety feature from their credit card, resulting from so many donors in Maine trying to donate at the same time. 
  • Often times, the donor will get a text message asking the donor to confirm the charge. Ask the donor to check for a text message. If they received one, they should respond to the text. You can then try to resubmit the donation.
  • If the donor didn’t get a text or if the gift still isn’t processing, please share the following options with the donor.
    • If they are comfortable trying another credit card, try that new card’s information.
    • If they want to continue using the same card, they can try to enter the information themselves, by hanging up and navigating to keepmewarm.org. Let them know that if they still have issues on that page, there is also an alternative donation link in the FAQs of that page.
    • The donor also has the option of sending a check. See directions above.