AN UNPRECEDENTED 60,000 people have sent applications to the Presidential Inaugural Committee to volunteer for activities surrounding the swearing-in of Barack Obama - even if it means simply giving directions or friendly hellos to out-of-towners at airports and metro stops.
With several days of events, including the January 20th swearing-in, the committee needs 15,000 to 18,000 volunteers, officials say. That is three times as many as were called upon for the inaugurations of George Bush.
Committee spokesman Kevin Griffis said: "There's a hunger out there. People want to get involved. People want to be a part of this thing . . . a part of history."
Officials have thinned the applicant pool to about 27,000, says Tripp Wellde, the committee's director of volunteers. They have been screening the offers via questionnaires that focus on availability and capability.
But the applications keep coming in through the committee's website, with a deadline set for 11:59pm yesterday.
Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation and housing, and they will not be paid, Mr Wellde said. Those selected will not necessarily get within a mile of the nation's first black president, but they will be provided with food, a commemorative credential and a red winter cap.
"We always have people who offer to be up there to hold the Bible," Mr Wellde says. "We've had an incredible amount of people who have shown interest in wanting to be up there standing next to [Mr Obama]. Unfortunately, most of our volunteer roles will not be standing next to the president-elect, if not all of them."
Although it is not yet clear who will be holding the Bible when the oath of office is taken, the book is usually held by the president-elect's spouse, a spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies said.
Mr Wellde estimated that 6,000 volunteers would be required to work on the Mall, where upward of two million people are expected to gather for the swearing-in. An additional 2,800 volunteers would likely be needed to staff the inaugural parade route. Thousands more would be needed to help at the rest of the week's events.