President Obama, First Lady Participate in 9/11 Acts of Service
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JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Sporting an apron and black baseball cap, President Obama on Wednesday visited a local charity, Food & Friends, to help assemble packages for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other illnesses. The service project was billed as part of his commemoration of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The charity provides brown bag meals for about 500 people in the greater Washington area, according to the White House. Some of the items Obama stuffed in the bags included bananas, oranges, apples, sandwiches, chips and fruit cups.
Pausing from his work, Obama said to the cameras, “Every 9/11, obviously, we remember those we lost. We also remember the incredible outpouring of neighbors helping neighbors.”
“I want to make sure we encourage everyone out there to volunteer in their own communities,” he added.
At the same time, first lady Michelle Obama visited the new USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir, Md., where she met with military children and their families and helped to assemble patriotic crafts. She brought a basket of White House cookies to share with participants.
“We’re so proud of what you do because your parents, your moms and dads and grandparents and cousins and uncles and aunts, whoever is in your family who’s serving — you guys help them help our country,” she told the kids. “And we just wanted to shine a light on all of the great work that the USO is doing for military families all over this country.”
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