,type=downsize)
It’s usually just the first ladywho delivers the White House staffers' gifts to the needy but this year she hada little helper, President Barack Obama himself. Introducing himself as the “big elf” and bellowing “ho, ho, ho,” the President delivered giant red sacks filled with toys at the Marine Corps' annual Toys for Tots campaign on Wednesday.
President Obama delivered toys to the Marine Corps' annual Toys for Totscampaign
Thepresidential pair brought about 1,000 items to the Washington military base,Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, where unwrapped toys are collected.
Obama declared "ho, ho, ho," at the toy drive
“That's apretty serious ho, ho, ho,” Michelle Obama said of her husband’s greeting to thecrowd, adding, “We're going to break you in slowly, okay?”
Of theannual event Michelle said: “One of the challenges is making sure that we haveenough toys for the older kids. It's always fun to buy the Barbie dolls and thecoloring books, but we have to remember that there are teenagers out there toothat need those gifts.”
“And wetry to make it a point to make sure that we're buying cool clothes for kids andelectronic products and educational materials for teenagers as well.”
The first couple brought around 1,000 items to the military baseon Wednesday
Thepresident thanked the Marine Corps for starting the annual toy drive in the 1940sbut wasn’t so helpful sorting out which gifts were for boys and which were forgirls.
Michelledeclared, “I don't know how good he'll be with sorting, because he doesn'tusually deal in shopping in any kind of way.”
Michelle Obama traditionally givesout the gifts alone but was joined by her husband this year
Shecontinued “But we'll watch him closely to see if he can figure out which onesare girls' zero-to-two or unisex. It gets really complicated, so watch him,because he could really make your work harder.”
Michellecertainly takes the lead with holiday preparations, last week she showed off the White House’s beautiful holiday decorations to military families.