Laura Bush to Continue Volunteering from Dallas

Laura Bush said she will continue much of the same volunteer work she's done as first lady after leaving the White House in January.

Bush, speaking Saturday at an American Red Cross event, said "I'm going to do a lot of volunteering" after she and President George W. Bush step down in less than two months.

Bush, who has championed the rights of Afghan women, said she'll continue to help the women through the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, which was set up to help women gain the skills and education deprived them under the Taliban.

She also said some of her volunteer work will be done through her husband's presidential library and public policy institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The complex is under construction not far from the couple's North Dallas neighborhood home.

The first lady, who has been a frequent, public critic of Myanmar's military government, indicated she will continue helping the people there. The former librarian and teacher isn't ruling out some school time either. "Hopefully, I'll be able to go back to some schools and volunteer," Bush said.

The first lady spoke after briefly sorting and reading greeting cards at an event for Holiday Mail for Heroes. The program, led by American Red Cross and mail service provider Pitney Bowes Inc., allows Americans to send soldiers and wounded troops holiday greeting cards even if they don't know their names.

"It was very sweet to sort and read these cards and see what Americans have written in to our troops," said Bush, who encouraged volunteerism throughout the holidays. Volunteering is "really an important part of the holiday season."