First Lady Michelle Obama is calling on Americans to volunteer to help kids fend off “summer learning loss.”  The First Lady is multi-tasking this summer. . . as mom and First Volunteer. . .with the launch of the second annual United We Serve Summer Service Initiative.  Mrs. Obama is imploring citizens to help reduce childhood obesity and reading loss that often occurs when school is out by stepping up to volunteer with kids this summer.

“A few hours a week can really make the difference,” she said from the Kennedy Recreation Center in Washington, D.C. “You don’t have to come to this with special skills, because no matter what you bring to the table or reasons for being involved in the community, what this shows is that we can come together as a nation around some really critical issues that affect our kids.”

The theme of this year’s service initiative is “Let’s Read, Let’s Move,” co-opting the First Lady’s campaign for physical fitness, as well as aiming to help kids to retain what they learned during the school year. “We’ll need help from folks all across the country to get this done,” said Mrs. Obama. “We’re going to need people to step up and volunteer to build and renovate playgrounds, and clear walking trails, and create community gardens, and organize book drives, and to take the time to serve as tutors and as mentors and to read to children of all ages.”

In making the announcement, Obama once again turned a traditional White House social get-together into an action plan, gathering a crowd of 150 composed entirely of Congresspeople and their family members. Just before the annual Congressional picnic, the group assembled 3,000 goody bags for kids chockablock with footballs, jump ropes, healthy snacks, picture books and information on the “Let’s Move, Let’s Read” campaign. The bags were distributed through the Capital Area Food Bank, one of Washington’s most popular places to volunteer.

“And as our dear friend, Senator Kennedy, used to say…all we have to do is ask, and then provide the opportunity, because, as he said, most Americans are already willing to give,” Mrs. Obama explained. “So we’re giving folks that opportunity through this initiative. We are asking. We are asking in a very big way.”

To find ways to answer Mrs. Obama’s call and help the nation, check out iVolunteer.org’s weekly listings. iVolunteer. She volunteers. . . Do you?

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