This week, we had some special visitors visit the Capitol and Executive Mansion. In June, I visited the Heritage Park Community Center to read to children there, as well as talk to them about volunteering. This week, the kids came to visit me.
My trip to the community center was an opportunity to kick off President Obama’s United We Serve campaign – a national effort to encourage community service. I read “How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night,” and talked with the children about how they can volunteer and what they already do to volunteer in their neighborhood.
Just a week later, I received a great package filled with thank you cards made by the kids. After reading each and every one, I wanted to show them how much I appreciated the opportunity to visit them. I decided that these cards should be displayed at the Capitol, alongside a placard encouraging other people to serve their communities. I then invited the children to come see their display at the Capitol.
When the kids arrived, they were treated to a tour of the Capitol. Then, they came to the Executive Mansion and celebrated with cookies and lemonade. By the end of their time at the Mansion, the children were all asking questions and smiling broadly for pictures.
I have always been interested in the education and future of North Carolina’s children, and this was a great opportunity to spend time with some of our future leaders. To find out how you can help your community, please visit www.serve.gov.