【AP】Michelle Obama kicks off volunteer campaign

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Michelle Obama kicks off volunteer campaign
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-06-22-michelle-obama-volunteer-campaign_N.htm

Posted 4h 22m ago


First lady Michelle Obama, seen here speaking at a Washington luncheon on June 16, has plans to kick off a nationwide summer community service campaign while in California on Monday. By Jonathan Ernst, Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama plans to kick off a summer of community service Monday by helping refurbish a school playground, while a number of cabinet officials plan to fan across the country to promote the campaign.

The initiative, known as United We Serve, was announced by President Obama in a video message last week.

The president is urging people to help in the nation's economic recovery by volunteering at schools and hospitals and pitching in on community needs ranging from tutoring to trash pickup.

Michelle Obama is putting the idea into action by joining California first lady Maria Shriver and local volunteers at Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco, where the playground is being refurbished to include an edible garden with a farmers market stand where kids and seniors can sell vegetables to raise money for the school.

Later, the first lady is scheduled to speak at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

A number of other people also are set to speak, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. also will help promote the event. He is scheduled to play basketball and talk with young people at the Police Athletic League in Philadelphia.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was visiting La Mesita Homeless Shelter for Families in Mesa, Arizona, to read to children and serve lunch at the child care center.

Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan was set to help rebuild a home in New Orleans.

United We Serve is led by the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service.