President George W. Bush will meet Sister Chabanel Hayunga when he arrives in Rochester, Minnesota, on Wednesday, October 20, 2004. Hayunga, 66, is an active volunteer with the Senior Companion program through Catholic Charities and the Southeastern Minnesota Council for Independent Living.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes, and hecreated USA Freedom Corpsto help foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. Since March 2002, President Bush has met with more than 350 individuals around the country, like Hayunga, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

A Franciscan Sister for 45 years, Hayunga visits ten senior clients on a regular basis helping them with errands, taking them to appointments, going shopping, and giving them one-to-one support. The Senior Companion Program pairs individuals ages 60 and over with seniors who have difficulty with daily living tasks. Through their assistance and friendship, Senior Companions help others live independently in their homes rather than having to move to institutional care.

Through 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 at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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