Veteran Barack Obama supporter Ron Booth knows what its like to be part of a presidential campaign - the can-do spirit, the endless tasks, the sense of belonging.

That's why the 56-year-old Westminster man is energized to be part of a nationwide "Renew America/Call to Service" campaign. The grassroots volunteer movement includes 100 places to participate in Colorado. It's set to coincide with the inauguration of President-elect Obama, and also with Monday's observance of Martin Luther King Day.

On a Web site, incoming first lady Michelle Obama urges people to "renew America together," by volunteering with the project of their choice this weekend and beyond.

"It will take ordinary citizens working together with a common purpose to get this country back on track," she said in a statement. "Whatever service activity you organize or take part in - cleaning up a park, giving blood, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or mentoring an at-risk youth - you can help start this important journey."

The Web site is: USA service.org/calltoservice.

'Food drops'

A sampling of projects in the Denver area suggests many of the organizers, like Booth, came out of the Obama campaign. While the events are nonpolitical, volunteers who sign up online to take part may have their names included in an Obama database, which is the case for Booth's project.

Booth is organizing four "food drops" this weekend in Adams County through a newly organized nonprofit, Colorado Citizens for Change and Progress.

He said about 50 volunteers have signed up, though virtually all of them come from previous Obama mailing lists.

"It would be a shame to let all this networking go to naught beyond the elections," Booth said. An Obama supporter since 2007, Booth was the quintessential grassroots organizer.

Booth said after Obama's election, organizers pitched the idea to the national Obama campaign to keep its network going by creating a volunteer service campaign. But despite the Obama connection, "This is nonpolitical; it goes beyond red America and blue America."

The call to service has brought a flurry of activity to the Jeffco Action Center, a 40-year-old social services agency based in Golden.

Ranks are full

The action center already has 30 to 40 volunteers for this weekend and is trying to parcel out the overflow to other agencies.

"Our ranks are already full," said organizer Cynthia Merrill Tamny. "My perception is there is a great deal of goodwill right now, and . . . we'll be hearing from more and more people."

Tamny, who held a leadership role in the Obama campaign in Golden, said a community database will be developed using the volunteer sign-ups. She said former Obama campaigners are already forming groups around legislative issues, such as forums in Golden to discuss health care.

"Preparation is being laid to continue this citizen group that began around the (presidential) campaign to influence legislation and do good works," she said.

Not every volunteer project is easy to access. For example, the list includes a call for hospice volunteers at Trinity Hospice in Englewood. However, the hospice's local phone number is disconnected and the only address, found on a Google search, lists an office suite on Inverness Parkway.