Volunteer Impact Story
Brandon Zamudio, President of the Kappa Chapter of La Unidad Latina
When United Way launched emergency pop-up food 
pantries during last fall’s government shutdown, we needed Spanish-speaking volunteers who could help welcome and assist neighbors across Greater New Haven. Members of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. at Yale University were looking for ways to support New Haven’s Spanish-speaking community, making the partnership a natural fit.
Among those volunteers was Brandon Zamudio, President of the Kappa Chapter of La Unidad Latina. Brandon returned to volunteer with United Way this spring at School Break Groceries, helping distribute food to New Haven families during April break, when students do not have access to school meals.
For Brandon, the experience was personal. “It’s important to support K-12 students and families. Coming from a background where I attended food giveaways myself, giving back in this way means a lot to me.”
As families picked up groceries for the week ahead, Brandon appreciated the opportunity to connect directly with community members. “You can tell people are here to support their families. Being able to interact with them and be part of that support has been a great experience.”
His experience also highlighted the importance of building connections beyond campus and investing in the broader community. “Yale is just one part of New Haven. There’s so much more to this community, and it’s important to take that step outside campus and support the people who call Greater New Haven home.”
Every day, United Way helps connect people who want to make a difference with meaningful opportunities to support their neighbors. Whether it's responding to an emergency, helping families put food on the table during a school break, or addressing long-term community challenges, those connections turn a desire to help into real impact.