The group Organizing for America is headquartered only two blocks from the Capitol, but when horse-trading over healthcare legislation intensified there this week, Barack Obama's grass-roots advocacy operation turned its attention away from Washington. [Last weekend], the group recruited thousands of its volunteer members to gather in farmers' markets, rehab clinics, parks, and libraries nationwide as part of a National Health Care Day of Service." -- Boston Globe
While families across the country enjoy this 4th of July weekend, we wanted to take time to look back at the events of last weekend, when supporters across the country took place in a National Health Care Day of Service. Here are just a few of the reports we've gotten back from hosts of last weekend's events:
It was truly fantastic. People came to our booth with food they had picked from their home garden, and others came to the market specifically to shop for the Healthy Food Drive. We ended up with a full pick-up load of fresh food -- vegetables, fruit, and assorted pasta, bread, hand-made tortillas, etc. It's difficult to estimate amount, but some thought we had at least 200 pounds of food. When we showed up at the Food Bank with our load of food, they were awestruck. What I noticed is that throughout the day, the faces and the voices of both volunteers and donors were lit up, both in the giving and the receiving. Some folks, donors and volunteers, asked, "When are we doing this again?" -- Saoirse C-G, Golden, COI had a healthy food drive outside of ShopRite. As people walked into the grocery store, we handed them ideas of healthy foods they may want to buy and then at the exit we had a table with baskets to collect food in, information about the Children's Health Insurance Program, information about President Obama's health care plan, and health care declarations to sign...I will definitely host another event like this. It felt great to collect food for people in need in the area. All of my volunteers were super excited and really want to get involved again, so I will definitely get in touch with them and see if I can plan something else. -- Linda M, Warminster, PA
In an email to thousands of event attendees, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird explained:
Last weekend, you were part of something big. Americans like you came together across the country -- in community health centers, outside of supermarkets, in local schools -- to serve together and improve health care in your community. While serving your neighborhoods, you raised your voice and built momentum to finally fix this broken health care system. Thank you for your work.We can't -- and we won't -- stop now. We've got more work to do to achieve our goal of real health care reform this year, and you'll be an integral part of this effort at every step of the way.
Last weekend, you were part of something big. Americans like you came together across the country -- in community health centers, outside of supermarkets, in local schools -- to serve together and improve health care in your community. While serving your neighborhoods, you raised your voice and built momentum to finally fix this broken health care system. Thank you for your work.
We can't -- and we won't -- stop now. We've got more work to do to achieve our goal of real health care reform this year, and you'll be an integral part of this effort at every step of the way.
For those of you whose Health Care Day of Service events have yet to take place, and for those planning future events, we now have state-specific Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) flyers available for download:
Download State-Specific Flyers for Children’s Health Insurance Program Info
One of President Obama’s first actions was expanding access to the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Currently, millions of eligible CHIP participants are unaware of how to sign up and receive the services they need. By providing state-specific education to parents, volunteers can help these children gain access to health care.
Every state runs its own separate Children’s Health Insurance Programs with specific qualifications for access and differing enrollment processes.
Thank you so much for hosting a National Health Care Day of Service event in your community. All around the country this weekend, folks like you gathered to serve together -- improving health care in your neighborhoods and building momentum towards achieving real health care reform.Hearing from you is important to us.Please take a moment to let us know how your event went -- what worked well and what could be improved upon in the future -- and send us any photographs you may have taken or stories you'd like to share. Your feedback is an invaluable resource for improving this movement for change.http://my.barackobama.com/servicefeedback Thank you for all of your work, Jeremy Jeremy Bird Deputy Director Organizing for America
Once your Health Care National Day of Service is complete, be sure to report back on how it went -- your feedback is crucial to the success of our efforts on the ground, and on our ability to improve on future events.
Please fill out the following online forms:
• Event Sign-In Form
• Event Feedback
For those of you planning events in Spanish speaking communities, we'll be adding some Spanish language materials to the site today. Currently you can download:
• Spanish Language Health Care Declaration of Support
Thank you for hosting a National Health Care Day of Service event.
Starting Thursday, we'll be answering the most frequently asked questions as well as posting the latest information and resources.
Use the comments below to ask a question.
On Thursday, I'll be leading a conference call to help you plan your event, answer your questions, and make sure you have everything you need for a successful National Health Care Day of Service event -- please join me. The call will be Thursday, June 18th, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The call-in information is: Call-in Number: (712) 432-1001 Access code: 462-823-998
Additionally, please submit any questions you'd like me to answer on the call to ofainfo@dnc.org, with "Day of Service" in the subject line. As your event approaches, you can call the helpline at (866) 495-2004.
