President Barack Obama on Wednesday volunteered at a District of
Columbia food bank that provides freshly-prepared meals to people
living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses.
According to a pool report filed by Mark Lander of The New York
Times, Obama spent a portion of his day helping pack meals at the
headquarters of Food & Friends.
“Every 9/11, obviously, we remember those we lost,” Obama,
wearing a black Food & Friends apron and a black baseball cap,
told reporters. “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.
In addition to providing meals, Food & Friends, founded in
1988, provides nutrition counseling and friendship to those it
serves.
Christopher J. Copley, a spokesman for Food & Friends, said
that the roughly 500 meals – consisting of an assortment of fresh
fruit, sandwiches, fruit cups and Sun Chips – Obama helped
assemble would be delivered on Friday.