President George W. Bush will meet Maria Oneal when he arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, May 21, 2004. Oneal is an active volunteer in her community, helping people receive their medication through the Pharmacy Prescription Aid Program.

The USA Freedom Corps is President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation by volunteering two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetime. Since January 2002, President Bush has met with hundreds of individuals around the country, like Oneal, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Through the Pharmacy Prescription Aid Program, Oneal helps clients fill out forms, monitors when their medication is delivered, assists clients in receiving refill medication, and serves as an advocate between doctor and patient. Oneal, a retired pharmacy technician, serves up to 100 hours each month, and also helps train other volunteers. The program helps financially disadvantaged individuals of all ages receive medications they could not otherwise afford, thanks to donations from participating pharmaceutical companies, and is a service of Faith in Action through Volunteers of America.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corpsoffice at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the Call to Service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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