Press Availability by the First Lady and Mrs. McCain at a Volunteer Event

Business Wire, Sept 2, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minneapolis Convention Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota

September 1, 2008

1:49 P.M. CDT

MRS. BUSH: We're here in this center because both Target -- which is, as you all know, is headquartered here in Minneapolis/St. Paul -- and FedEx, and the Red Cross are going to be three partners in this service center that's being set up around -- this is the space, you see all the people here from Target in their red shirts. They're -- Target is going to supply what's needed for a hygiene pack for people who are in shelters all over the United States, who've evacuated from the Gulf Coast. And then FedEx will fly the packs down to the Gulf Coast or wherever they're needed, and the Red Cross will distribute those to the Red Cross shelters everywhere there. These will be packs that have toothpaste and toothbrush and just the things that people will need who've left their home quickly, and just, hopefully, we're all hoping we'll just need for a very short time just to tide them over until they're able to get back to their homes.

I want to thank Target for everything you all do everywhere. Target is always such a really great sponsor of so many great things. I want to thank the Red Cross here. I met the Red Cross people when I was here; I happened to be here right after the bridge fell in Minneapolis. And so I saw them there and the great work they were doing for everyone after the fall of the bridge.

And then I want to thank FedEx as well for being a part of this, a partner in this.

These were all sort of ideas that came from Cindy and John McCain -- ways that, while we're here in Minneapolis/St. Paul, we can do things for people on the Gulf Coast. I think Cindy can go ahead and say some of the things that John told her and that he was hoping we would be able to put together here.

MRS. McCAIN: Well, obviously you heard my husband's message yesterday, and throughout this convention we are not Republicans, we are Americans. And this is a perfect example. Within minutes of when my husband put the call out, Target, FedEx, Red Cross -- everyone who's been involved in this convention and more came forward immediately and have offered assistance in such a major way. We cannot thank you enough.

And this is truly what Americans are all about, and we've said time and time again we are always the most generous; we were always the first ones to respond and we're always the last ones to leave.

So I am very proud to be here, and thank you so much for what you are doing -- to FedEx; certainly the Red Cross, who I've worked with you around the world, and the things that you do continually break my heart through the world. And Target, thank you once again for everything you've done, and your people and your volunteers and for putting this together for us, but most importantly putting it together for the Gulf Coast. Thank you.

MRS. BUSH: Special thanks to the Red Cross, and people anywhere in the United States that hear us here can be sure to get to your local Red Cross as well to make sure they can send supplies on down to the Gulf if they need them there or can help in any other disasters that the Red Cross helps in everywhere all around the world. So thank you very much for that.

MRS. McCAIN: We're going to be encouraging not only the delegates to the convention but people from around the United States to give of their time, to give of their expertise and to give from their wallets as well. And my husband and I are glad to be the first ones to step forward in this effort and to be able to give to each of the charities from each of the states that were noted on the back of the card that you've seen us give out. It's our pleasure to be the first ones involved in that and to be -- encourage everybody else to match what we do.

So thank you. And thanks for coming and thank you for taking a look at what they're doing. And I encourage you all to come back when they're busy working and busy getting things done, because we need that -- the continuing message of hope and security for the folks in the Gulf Coast. (Applause.)

Q Mrs. Bush, I know you've been down to the Gulf probably 20, 22 times -- I've lost track. But are you and your husband going to be going down anytime the next couple of days to take a look?

MRS. BUSH: I don't know about in the next couple of days. I mean, we'll go as soon as we can go and don't take assets -- the assets that they use when the President is there away from what people need there. But I hope to go again soon.

And I'll be -- there will be one other round of library grants that will be coming up shortly, also on the Gulf Coast. I hope that the schools are not damaged. I'm very worried about the schools that have gotten off to a really good start, especially in New Orleans but all the way across the Gulf Coast. So I hope that we'll hear some good news later on the end of this week and that the schools were all okay and kids can go back and go into school, go right back to school.

Q Have you talked to the President this morning about the --