The Obamas Serve at Martha's Table; Urge Giving Back
The first family stopped by Martha's Table in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to help distribute Thanksgiving food.
While greeting needy families and wishing each a "Happy Thanksgiving," President Barack Obama and his family, including his mother-in-law, handed out bags filled with all the trimmings of a traditional holiday meal.
That same day, First Lady Michelle Obama sent out an email encouraging Americans to get involved in serving their communities.
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"In our family, we have a tradition: Every year on the day before Thanksgiving, we take some time as a family to help out people in our community who are in need," she wrote. "This Thanksgiving, I encourage all Americans to find a way to give back – and maybe even start a family tradition of your own."
Lindsey Buss, president and CEO of Martha's Table, a non-profit organization in Northwest DC, lauded the first family's tradition.
"Their example of service and the spotlight they bring to the challenge of hunger and nutrition, especially for children, is a tremendous asset for all of us working to find solutions to poverty," Buss stated.
Thanksgiving baskets distributed by Martha's Table were filled with turkeys donated by Poor Roberts Charities, Little Flower Church and the PAX association; produce donated by Philadelphia Regional Produce; and homemade pies made by Sheila Whitney and the National Cathedral School.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, President Obama noted that this year's Thanksgiving is not the hardest that America has ever faced.
"But," he added, "as long as many members of our American family are hurting, we've got to look out for one another."
Obama is spending Thanksgiving at the White House.
