Obama's Inaugural Speech Inspires Change

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} One year ago, President Barak Obama gave hisinaugural address to record crowds. His campaign was run on the promise of hopeand change. With the anniversary of his speech upon us, it's time to reflect onthe past years events in order to take stock of where we are in our lives. Whathas Barak Obama done for this nation? By some estimates: nothing. But byothers: everything.   What did that speechchange about the lives of Americans?   The presidential inaugural address was a callto action for the American people. Obama made it clear that in our currentsituation it would take the help of each individual American to make a changewithin our nation. Obama said, "what is required of us now is a new era ofresponsibility—a recognition, on the part of every American" and "startingtoday, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the workof remaking America ."   With that call to action came a wave ofresponse. American volunteerism surged and is still running strong. Immediatelyafter that speech was made, food banks that were critically low began to slowlyfill back up. Homeless shelters received much needed donations and charitableorganizations that were nearly defunct due to high demand were given hope fortomorrow.   But, nearly a year later, some of thosedonations and food drives have slowed. Due to the economic recession and thewar, our nation is facing times some are comparing to the Great Depression. Thatis why the Blanket America charitable organization was formed. The PatchworkHeritage quilt was created with the idea of uniting America under one blanket. Blanket America hascome up with the perfect response to the presidential call to action.   When Obama said, "we know that ourpatchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness," Mesh Gelman and hisdesign crew created the Patchwork Heritage quilt to benefit charity. For everyquilt sold, a new fleece blanket is donated to charity. Gifts in KindInternational, one of the largest charitable organizations in America , isacting as an intermediary to distribute the donated blankets to Americans inneed. Their goal is to help one million Americans in need throughout the nextyear. To learn about how you can help, visit America .

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