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.

Day On

Martin Luther King Day, this past Monday, was a much-publicized day of service: volunteers around the country were encouraged to consider the holiday a "day-on" for volunteering rather than just another day off.

Many of us saw about-to-be-President Obama volunteering to renovate a DC area teen emergency shelter. (The homelessness catastrophe in our Federal City is a topic for another blog, so let's just say here that this was an aptly chosen project.)

This blog is perfect, however, for recognizing the largest MLK Day service event in the history of the nation. And where was it, you ask breathlessly? Wait for it...

Philadelphia!

60,000 volunteers, including Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Congressman Chaka Fattah, who took part in the Cradles to Crayons project, assembling supples for area homeless newborns and children.

Yes, the City of Brotherly Love took this step in opposition to its curmudgeonly reputation. You see, my family is of Philly origin, and I am myself a product of a South Jersey (extended Philly suburb) upbringing. So, maybe now we can be known for something other than booing Destiny's Child or throwing snowballs at Santa. (The #1 go-to story for illustrating how abhorrent Philadelphians are).

So, eat it all you larger-than-Philadelphia cities that couldn't muster more charitable citizens (I'm looking at you New York).

So, thanks Senator Casey, Congressman Congressman Fattah and the 50,998 others who participated in the events on Monday.

Scout's Honor

From an '07 South Florida Sun-Sentinel story:

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida, mom to young daughters and herself a former Scout, makes time for a VIP group of South Floridians - the Girl Scouts of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.

Wasserman-Schultz joined a half day empowerment event, "designed to teach girls about self-defense, healthy eating habits, and their power to change their communities."

As part of the program, which also included sit-ups and push-ups with former Olympian Dominique Dawes and sessions on inner beauty and personal safety, the Congresswoman led a session on standing up for your beliefs. She inspired at least one young scout to action:

"I'm going to start a petition to raise awareness in my school... about animal rights," 13-year-old Plantation resident [Hannah Gifford] said after hearing U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, speak about the importance of advocacy."

If They Had a Hammer

Today, we recognize... the entire United States Senate!

In the abstract, at least, for passing Senate Resolution 319, "The Houses the Senate Built"Act, back in 2000. The program called for every Senator to personally contribute to building a Habitat for Humanity home in their state.

While there's no official record of which Senators made good on this very worthy piece of legislation - and to be fair, it's probably easier for some members of congress to wield a power drill than for others - Habitat all-stars who put a little elbow grease into helping house their constituents include:

• Delaware's Tom Carper and Joe Biden
• Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln (who spent her time "helping apply the exterior siding")
• Maryland's Barbara Mikulski
• New York's Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton
• Idaho's Larry Craig (hold the jokes about constructing the bathroom stalls)
• Nebraska's Max Baucus
• Connecticut's Chris Dodd
• Utah's Bob Bennett
  
• Oregon's Ron Wyden
• Washington's Patty Murray (above... assuming she donned the pantsuit post-spackling, of course)

Is community service a political stunt?

I'm particularly excited about this post! See?!

I'd like to introduce you to Congressman Tom Periello's campaign volunteer hours tithing program. I picked this for a few reasons:

1) Rep. Periello is my new Congressman, from Virginia's 5th District.
2) We went to the same high school. (Yup, total yuppie. Deal with it.)
3) It allows me to address a concern about this website that I'd already heard. Thanks for your concern!

It goes like this: isn't community service just another form of campaign strategy? Isn't it all political?

Answer: Maybe. Hell, probably. But if a candidate for public office thinks that the best way to woo me as a voter is to roll up his or her sleeves and go serve food to the homeless, or build a house for Habitat, well, they're right! That is what I want to see from my elected representatives. I'm glad that their vision of America is one in which voters will reward someone who spends time on community service projects, and I will reward you, both with my vote, and my general support, including, for what it's worth (alot!), this blog.

Fostering community in California

Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) is a former foster dad (and now adoptive parent) to two California kids, an experience that he says has brought him in touch with the challenges that face the 100,000 kids in the CA foster care system.

So Cardoza, according to this Modesto Bee story, made a natural partner for Daniel Peterson, a young man whose love of music helped him through the difficulties of a childhood in foster care. Peterson, now living in complex for young people who have aged out of the foster system, hopes to open a space where other kids without resources can play and record music.

After being introduced to Peterson through another former fosteree, the Congressman was eager to help with the project. But rather than write a check, Cardoza has offered Peterson more hands-on help with making contacts for fundraising and offering the services of his staff - the whole "teach a man to fish" business that will no doubt make Peterson's eventual successes that much sweeter. Good luck to both of them!

Raising HIV Awareness in Florida

A salute today for Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL):

The first Latina elected to Congress, Ros-Lehtinen represents a heavily Hispanic-American district. In an effort to raise awareness for the spread of HIV within the Hispanic community, Ros-Lehtinen contributed in a very public way to the 2007 launch of the "Test for Life Florida" coalition by undergoing an HIV test on National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.

A cheer for Ros-Lehtinen for helping to challenge the stigma around HIV and encouraging her constituents to get tested.

Soup's On!

Proving that being politically reviled doesn't mean you can't be a mensch in your personal life, a Joe Lieberman (D-CT) story for today:

Over the Christmas holiday, Senator Joe donned a chef's hat and dug in to help serve Connecticut homeless folks a hot meal at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter/Open Door Shelter.

Says Joe:

"I think you learn anytime you come and see the need in this way. I think it's also important for those of us who have a lot to be grateful for to come and serve others."

Agreed! At a time when America's food pantries are trying to meet increased demand with fewer resources, it's refreshing to see a member of Congress literally rolling up their sleeves in their eagerness to understand the problem.

It's Turkeys All the Way Down

Our second featured Member of Congress is Joe Baca of San Bernardino, California.

In future, I'll try to find more recent news items. This one, however, is good for three reasons:

1) It's got pictures!

2) Rep. Baca gets kudos for having his own charitable foundation, which evidently also sponsors sports camps and gives scholarships (with only a small kudos-deduction for naming the charity after himself - I think this is still a preferable form of self-promotion over, say, building your own mausoleum while still alive).

3) There's no subtle agenda behind the giving. It's just turkeys, and who can't get behind that?

Well done, Joe Baca.

Congressman Volunteers at Virginia Living Museum

Katie and I decided that this story would make the perfect inaugural post for this site. Not only is the Congressman from the Commonwealth, where we both set down roots before taking up residence in the District, but it features elementary school children and animals! It doesn't get cuter than that. The good congressman even worked in a message of environmental conservation, which I find particularly satisfying.

Congrats Rep. Wittman for earning our first tip of the hat. Keep up the good work.