Reading with new friends in Arizona

In an "awwwwww"-inspiring moment in a Mesa, Arizona, shelter earlier this summer, Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ, and left of picture), played summertime Santa to toddlers in La Mesita temporary shelter, dispensing stories, hugs, and an available lap to kids whose families have fallen on hard times in his district.

Mitchell and fellow shelter visitor Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, spent a morning "packing diapers into plastic baggies, slicing turkey for kids' meals and sharing the importance of reading," according to the local East Valley Tribune. Better still, Mitchell is a long-time ally of A New Leaf, the parent nonprofit that operates La Mesita and 29 other shelters around his district.

Congressman Mitchell and Secretary Locke urged other Americans to similarly help their fellow, struggling citizens by volunteering to read to children, assist with resumes, and otherwise supporting community shelters like La Mesita. And proved, with the spontaneous affection of some new friends, that volunteering means receiving as much as giving.

It's Fundamental

I've got Girl Scouts on the brain as I eagerly anticipate the arrival of my Thin Mints in the office this week, so another Scout-related post today:

A high five for Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander for his work with the Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council and the US Marine Corps in their annual "Reading Rocks!" book drive. Book donations are collected around the holidays and distributed through Toys for Tots.

Check out the Reading Rocks! PSA for more from Sen. Alexander and some adorable be-pigtailed Brownies reading books with Marines:

No Child Left Inside

Look at us go, we're on fire! Two blog posts in three days: more good deeds than you can handle.

So, I became enamored of the No Child Left Inside program today, which is aimed at environmental education for children. As part of this program, a bunch of high school students from Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Pennsylvania congregated at Anacostia Park in D.C. on MLK day for some tree planting and park maintenance.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer did some speaking, and Rep. John Sarbanes (not to be confused with the elder Senator Sarbanes) said a few words, then picked up a shovel and started digging. Senators Ben Cardin and Barabara Mikulski also attended.

No Child Left Inside sounds like a great program... especially in cities... and especially in places like Anacostia in cities.*

*It makes me think of whenever my Wii interrupts my Wii bowling to ask if I want to take a break and go outside, and I feel guilty, like I should, even though it's 11 p.m. in December. Point being, we should all appreciate being outdoors, especially if we're planting trees, and especially if we're Congressmen planting trees in Anacostia.

Jim McDermott gets his hands dirty

At Seattle's Interlaken park, where dozens of volunteers descended "to plant trees and shrubs, pull invasives, and do their part to restore Seattle’s forested park lands" as part of "Green Seattle Day," the second Saturday of November designated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels in 2007.

The Interlaken volunteers, along with hundreds of others across the city, planted more than 3,000 trees and shrubs. Encouraged Congressman McDermott (D-WA), “I hope what you are doing here today acts like a seedling and takes root in other neighborhoods in Seattle and across the region."

No one can talk to a horse, of course, unless that horse is Mr. Ed

While we usually avoid highlighting legislative accomplishments in favor of personal outreach activities, Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) still gets a spotlight from us for receiving the Humane Society of the United State's first ever "Humane Horseman of the Year" Award.

The award, given to Congressman Whitfield for his legislative efforts to end horse slaughter, is designed to "recognize a horseman or woman who has shown an outstanding commitment to improving the welfare of America’s horses."

While plenty of politicians adopt a cowboy persona to appeal to voters, Congressman and horseman Whitfield actually walks the talk, taking action to protect the vulnerable animals so central to his state's culture, and saying "neigh!" to animal cruelty.

(sorry, couldn't resist)

"Republicans make love like they make war..."

Partisanship alert: Katie and I couldn't resist making Rep. Linda Sanchez the subject of today's congratulations. At first blush, it may not seem like she's doing anything too different from plenty of other pols - speaking in front of audiences at fundraisers. Not many Members of Congress participate in DC's funniest celeb contest at DC Improv, however.

But not many Members of Congress are this awesome.

If the mission statement of the blog is stretched a bit to include awareness of totally sweet activities that also help people, then this is perfect. I also feel like, while many comedians are liberal (thanks John Stewart and Stephen Colbert!), liberal politicians get stuck in a humorless box. So, it's fantastic to read about Rep. Sanchez spitting professional-quality game on stage.

I encourage you to click through to the link above to read the punchline.

In Other National Service News...

A couple of other Congressional MLK-day volunteers to highlight:

• New Mexico Congressman Ben Ray Luján was at the District's John Phillip Sousa Middle School to help install solar systems and distribute efficient energy kits as part of the "Repower a Community" event.
• Congressman John Barrow of Georgia helped assemble care packages for the troops, helping Operation Gratitude support our men and women serving overseas.

These two are particularly notable, I think, for illustrating that, in addition to political grandstanding on issues like clean energy and support for our troops, there plenty of small steps we can all take as individuals. A thumbs up to Congressmen Luján and Barrow for using the MLK Day of Service to tackle, in a small way, these issues as citizens instead of just as politicians.