WASHINGTON, DC, January 19, 2009 (ENS)
Hundreds of thousands of people participated in more than 11,000 service
events across the country today to honor President-elect Barack Obama's
request to Americans of all ages to help fellow citizens in celebration of
the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and of his inauguration as the 44th
President of the United States.
This morning, Obama participated in the renovation of safe space housing for
homeless and runaway or disconnected young people at Sasha Bruce Youthwork,
an organization that has met the urgent needs of Washington, DC's at-risk
youth and their families for more than 30 years.
Vice President-elect Joe Biden worked with Habitat for Humanity alongside 50
AmeriCorps volunteers, firefighters, and police officers to help build homes
for families in need in northeast Washington, DC.
Michelle Obama, Malia and Sasha Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Ashley Biden
participated in the day’s largest service project. At Robert F. Kennedy
Memorial Stadium, volunteers made more than 85,000 care packages for
American servicemen and women stationed around the globe.
Across the country, many people are taking environmental action, planting
trees, restoring native plants and removing trash from parks and beaches.
In Exton, Pennsylvania, Diane Peralta says the theme at Exton Elementary
School this year is, "No child left inside." For the day of service, the
staff ordered small Arbor Day trees for each classroom that the students can
care for. "When the weather gets better we will plant them outside and
donate the rest," said Peralta. "The students will learn about nature in the
process! We are bringing the outside inside for the moment."
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Clean Water Fund is making Tuesday a day of
service to protect the environment. Organizer Marta Johnson says, "Help us
educate the community on important upcoming environmental issues and grow
our voice to ensure we get Michigan back on track with a green economy!"
Members of Earth Team plant native species at the Martin Luther
King Jr. Shoreline. (Photo courtesy Earth Team)
In Oakland, California, Save The Bay worked with volunteers from EarthTeam,
a local network of students, teachers and youth leaders, and employees from
Kaiser Permanente to restore wetlands and pick up trash at the Martin Luther
King Jr. Shoreline in Oakland.
Coordinator Darcie Collins said the volunteers are planting native species
such as blue wild rye and lavender in the tidal salt marsh. The vegetation
provides food and shelter for two endangered species - a bird called the
California clapper rail found only in the San Francisco Bay area and the
salt marsh harvest mouse, which she says is "no bigger than your thumb."
Another more ad hoc group brought trash bags to the beach at Long Beach,
California and filled them with litter.
Litter is important to Rakesh Baruah, who wants a Litter Free Inauguration
on the National Mall on Tuesday for the hundreds of thousands of people who
are expected to be there to witness this historic inauguration.
"After President-elect Obama's speech on election night, volunteers and
clean-up crews spent hours picking up the trash left behind by supporters.
Let's make sure this doesn't happen to the National Mall on Inauguration
Day, says Baruah. "If you plan on packing on to the mall to celebrate
President Obama's swearing-in on January 20th, please bring a bag to carry
any trash you may have with you when you leave. It's that simple! Help us
spread the word about Litter Free Inauguration 2009."
Days of service are planned from now until the end of January. In Houston,
Texas, for instance, volunteers from Keep Houston Beautiful will plant trees
along the trail for the visually impaired on January 31.
And above all, people across the country are rejoicing and helping others -
with food drives, neighborhood celebrations, pot lucks, inauguration
watching parties, and Renew America gatherings - in parks, golf clubs,
restaurants and cafes; in homes, churches, schools, theaters, and in
community halls - there is celebration.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.
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