Obama and family help distribute food

President Obama and his family spread some holiday cheer today at a charity center in Washington, D.C.

From a pool report:

Obama family delivers turkeys and bags of food to needy at Martha's Table in D.C.

Like last year, the president and family today followed up the turkey pardoning with turkey delivering, once again making about an hour-long appearance at Martha's Table, a 30-year-old non-profit that helps poor children, youth and families with food and clothing ... in Washington, D.C.

The family, dressed casually, was lined up behind four stainless steel tables in a medium-sized yellow room decorated with pictures and construction paper fall leaves and hearts.

A line of families, many with small children, snaked along the other side of the tables piled with food, picking up goods as they moved forward.

First they met Malia by the bags of fresh raw green beans; then Michelle by bananas and other fruit; then Sasha with boxes of pudding mix; then the president handing out bags bulging with a turkey and other food and stuffing in pumpkin pies; and finally his mother-in-law Marian Robinson.

All of the Obamas were upbeat, smiling and welcoming, and those in line appeared a little awed but replied to the Obamas' good wishes in kind.

"How are you doing," Obama said to one mom in an overcoat, then looked down to her little girl and said, "Hey, cutie pie, how are you doing?"

The president, tieless in shirtsleeves, gave high fives to three or four little boys during the pool's short stint inside (about 7 minutes) as he wrestled with some of the bags.

According to Martha's Table: Thanksgiving baskets will be filled with fresh produce donated from the community; the food was filled in reusable bags donated and decorated by the River School; turkeys were donated by Poor Roberts Charities, Little Flower Church and the PAX neighborhood association; fresh produce from Philadelphia Regional Produce; and delicious homemade pies were made by Sheila Whitney and volunteers from the National Cathedral Church.

For those of you who missed it, here is what Obama said at the turkey-pardoning ceremony about Martha's Table:

"So later this afternoon, our family will also deliver two turkeys who didn't quite make the cut to Martha's Table, which is an organization that does extraordinary work helping folks who are struggling here in D.C. And I want to thank the good people at Jaindl's Turkey Farm in Orefield, Pennsylvania, who have now donated these turkeys two years in a row."

(Posted by David Jackson)