I also would like to thank everyone for your response and indulgence to my "begging" on this list for the Obama campaign. Dozens of people cheerfully gave paper towels, snacks, bottled water, cookies and many other needed items and it was very much appreciated. Also, many of our neighbors cooked terrific dinners every night for the volunteers and staff at the East Liberty office. Not only was that greatly appreciated, our headquarters was the envy of all the other western PA headquarters. Thanks to you all. Lori Kasenter On Nov 5, 2008, at 10:17 AM, Martha Riecks wrote: Greetings! I just had to send a short message to the list-serve this morning, to thank the incredible numbers of our Highland Park/East Liberty (and Morningside & Stanton Heights) residents who worked on the Obama campaign. Over the past few days, I have been just one of a larger team of volunteers helping coordinate the canvass efforts running out of the East End Obama Campaign office for the neighborhood, and I am just amazed by how many of you came through the office, eager and excited to help. There were so many familiar faces that I recognized from Tazzo's, the park and the 93A/77D buses. All of you were willing to tackle our canvass route packs and keep returning for more packs of flyers and more lists of doors to knock on. These volunteers were even willing to trek out to other parts of the east end when it was needed! Cupcakes, fruit, energy bars, bottles of water and more just kept appearing to keep everyone fueled, dropped off by even more friendly faces from the neighborhood. While all this was going on, it was rather striking to notice what a diverse group of volunteers we had, in terms of both age and race - it was just really incredible and we should all be proud to live in a neighborhood were this diversity flourishes. I had been so busy, I had not even had the time to give it any thought until one of the news reporters who stopped by the office commented on it -- I then realized what a powerful message it sent. And what I saw over the past days doesn't even include the volunteers working out of the other east end staging locations, making phone calls, running errands, driving around voters and volunteers and more! Finally, I also want to thank all of us here in the east end who answered your doors even when you knew it was canvassers there, had genuine conversations with us, and offered so many words of support to these volunteers. We heard wonderful and inspiring stories along almost every route, that reminded those of us volunteering how important it is that we all have the opportunity to expresses our voices and ideas - and vote for change! Best, Martha Riecks -- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood>