The Obamas’ Choice for the Day of Service: Habitat for Humanity

President Obama and Michelle Obama, the first lady, did some work for DC Habitat for Humanity today as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance to commemorate September 11.

The Obamas toured a three-home project in the Deanwood neighborhood of northeast Washington, then helped paint the living room of one of the houses, according to a report by the White House press pool.

“I don’t think you’re going to have to redo it,” Mr. Obama joked to Kent Adcock, the charity’s president. “After we’re gone, you’ll be saying, ‘that wall is really messed up.’”

Meanwhile, the Corporation for National and Community Service provided some statistics about participation in the Obamas’ United We Serve summer volunteer program, which winds up today:

• Nearly 400 national groups, and thousands of local charities, participated.

• More than 2,000 individuals posted their own self-directed volunteer projects on the administration’s Web site, Serve.gov.

• Almost 2,000 people posted stories about their service.

• A wide range of sports and music organizations made public service announcements or sponsored local service events, including Country Music Television, Major League Baseball, MTV, the Professional Golfers’ Association, and the Women’s National Basketball Association.