National Day of Service

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President-Elect Obama Calls for National Day of Service

When Barack Obama was elected president, he set forth this challenge in his victory speech, "Let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other."

Beginning this weekend, each of us has an opportunity to answer this call to serve.

President-elect Obama is calling on all Americans to participate in a National Day of Service on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Day.  One hundred events are being held across Franklin County that focus on health and hunger.  Here in Upper Arlington and Northwest Columbus, organizers are tackling the hunger crisis that increasingly ravages the least fortunate of us in Central Ohio.  It is estimated that one in 10 Ohio families will need assistance with food this winter.  Let's do our part to make sure that the Mid-Ohio Food Bank is stocked and ready to address that need.

Here's how you can help:

1. Go to www.USAservice.org to identify a drop-off location where you can donate non-perishable food and checks to benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank from January 17-19.  (Click on "Find an Event", type in your zip code and search a 10-mile radius.)
2. Volunteer to go door-to-door to collect for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank on either January 17, 18 or 19 by e-mailing Robyn Harper at robynharper@sbcglobal.net.
3. Give generously with either food or check when a volunteer comes to your door collecting.

Please also consider calling our local Red Cross at 1-800-448-3543 to schedule a time to give blood at the Carriage Place Donor Center on Bethel Road.  Can't spare the time?  You can make an on-line donation to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank at  www.midohiofoodbank.org.   If possible, please identify your donations as coming from UAPA for tracking purposes.

Your help, whether by donation or time, will relieve someone's pain.  Learn more about these and other area events by going to www.USAservice.org, then share this information with your friends and encourage them to get involved.

Thank you for making a difference!