Here's a look at more coverage from last week's Health Care Day of Service events:

Residents of Evansville, Indiana, volunteered to help a community health center. The ECHO Community Health Center -- which provides health care to people without insurance, including the homeless -- was in the process of relocating and needed help. Volunteers carried boxes of medical records to the center’s new facility. WTVW FOX Evansville reported: 

The local chapter of Organizing for America is helping ECHO Community Health Center move to its new location. Evansville for Change helped with the move as part of OFA's National Health Service Day. The move was from ECHO's former headquarters at 501 John St. to a new facility at 315 Mulberry. A local moving crew transported most of the heavy medical equipment for the new facility. Volunteers loaded and unloaded boxes of medical records... The new facility will be open to the public July 6.

Residents of Central New York provided free rides for people with medical appointments. These organizers provided relief to people who are affected by the changing economy and may by uninsured. The group also put up fliers with information about SCHIP. By providing free rides and raising awareness of health care reform, these organizers helped people get the care they need. News 10 Syracuse reported:

One Central New York group answered President Obama's call for a National Health Care Day of Service by launching a new project in the community.

Organizing for America volunteers from around the region are introducing "Rides for Reform," which will offer free rides to medical appointments for people in need. Organizers hope the program brings more people to their cause of reforming health care.

"If we're going to ask the government to reform health care and do something good for our community here, then we need to do some service that shows we're in this together," said event organizer John DeSantis.

The group will also distribute fliers to let the community know about low-cost children's health care.

Jeff from Columbiana County, Ohio, volunteered at a healthy food drive.  Not only did Jeff help feed the hungry, he encouraged preventative care. He felt especially passionate about donating food due to the economic difficulties in Ohio. Along with the other volunteers, he collected food outside several grocery stores, and all food was donated to local food banks. From WYTV ABC Youngstown:

A group of people in Columbiana County wants to make sure everyone can eat right. The group asked for health food donations like pasta and tuna. They organized the food drive to help people in need, and at the same time, promote good nutrition and wellness. Everything collected gets donated to Columbiana County Food Banks.

Jeff Martin, from the Healthy Food Drive, said, "This is National Service Day, and we are working with a group called Organizing for America. Our local food banks are depleted down in this area because of hard economic times and we are just trying to help people out; get some food to the people who need it."

The group collected food at four different locations on Saturday, including Giant Eagles in Salem, Calcutta, and East Liverpool.

Another food drive took place in Savannah, Georgia. Residents of Savannah volunteered for Second Harvest Food Bank, an organization dedicated to providing nutritious food to the hungry. From The Coastal Source:

Savannahians lend a helping hand to Second Harvest Food Bank. Saturday afternoon as part of Citizens for Better Health Day, a food drive was held in front of the Brighter Day health food store on Park Avenue.

Residents could bring any kind of non-perishable food with them and donate it to the Second Harvest Food Bank, who never has any shortage of people looking for food.

"Because of the changing economy, people don't have as much money to spend for food," said Organizing for America volunteer Marie Simpson. "Some people maybe homeless and Second Harvest has a goal to help end hunger and that's what we're hoping to do."

Citizens for Better Health Awareness Day is part of National Health Care Day of Service taking place across the country.

Finally, here's a look at photos from events across the country:

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, CO

I 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.

This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.

Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.

Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.

As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.

So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.

With very best wishes,

President Barack Obama

July 4th, 2009

P.S. -- Our nation's birthday is also an ideal time to consider serving in your local community. You can find many great ideas for service opportunities near you at http://www.serve.gov.

You can watch the Independence Day celebrations at the White House live online tonight, starting at 6:45 PM Eastern. 

From David Plouffe:

Earlier in the week, we asked if you thought we should put the experiences of real American families on the air and online to show why we need heath care reform. The overwhelming answer? Yes.

Thanks to your support, we were able to spring into action and share with America the very personal reasons why we cannot afford to miss this one chance to finally reform our health care system.

I want you to be the first to see this powerful ad. It features real people telling their true stories of lost coverage, watching loved ones go without care, and making the case for why we need reform.

Once you watch this, you'll see what we mean about how powerful these personal stories can be -- and why we need to get them on the air right away.

Will you watch the video now, and then donate $25 or more to put it on the air?

As we speak, Congress is rapidly hammering out the details of the health care bill, and getting this message out now is crucial. Our representatives must understand how strongly we feel about the need for real reform -- and that we need it now.

In the next few days, we must decide how many of these ads we can make, where we can air them, and how many views we can guarantee. The more resources we have, the greater the impact we'll be able to make.

So watch this first video, and then please dig deep with a donation of $25 or more so we can get this ad and others like it on the air and online in key areas across the country.

https://donate.barackobama.com/healthcaread

Thanks for making it happen,

David Plouffe

P.S. -- Over 99,000 people have already donated to power our campaign for health care reform. This is the perfect time to join them, and help us hit our big goal of 100,000 donors for health care.

Here's the full video of yesterday's online town hall, in which the President answered questions submitted from Americans across the country:

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Did you see Vice President Biden's email last week, sharing personal health care stories from supporters across the country? Well, the stories have been read millions of times, and the reaction is an overwhelming, "Wow -- we've got to get to work."

It's not surprising -- these stories show the human face of the health care debate and inspire us all to act.

So here's our latest idea: Putting our supporters in coast-to-coast television and online ads, telling their own stories, in their own voice. It could be a breakthrough moment in this debate, when millions of Americans realize how urgent reform really is.

But recording and nationally broadcasting these stories won't be cheap. We can only go forward if you're ready to chip in. So what do you say -- should we do it?

Yes. I think this is a great idea, and I'm ready to contribute so it can happen.

No, I'm not ready to contribute to this plan.

How big could this be? Many experts believe health care reform was defeated in the early 90's by the infamous "Harry and Louise" ads. They featured actors sitting around a fake kitchen table, pretending to be a family that was frightened by reform.

So just imagine if this time around, the debate is shaped by real people, looking us in the eye, telling their actual story, and asking for our help to fix this broken system.

Phony stories helped defeat health care reform in the past. But this time, real stories could be the reason we win.

If enough Organizing for America supporters say yes and then donate the resources we need to pull it off, we'll start filming and distribution right away. So what do you say?

Yes, let's get these real stories on the airwaves. I'm ready to contribute.

No, I don't think this is a good idea or I can't contribute at this time.

We'll keep you posted with the results and what happens next.

Thanks, as always, for making it all possible.

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America