Obamas help out at food bank

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama and his family spent an hour Wednesday assembling bags of food at a Washington food bank and giving them to needy families.

The president, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha were joined at the Capital Area Food Bank by Oregon State basketball Coach Craig Robinson, the first lady's brother, and members of his team.

A smiling President Obama asked each person who received a bag of food how they were doing.

A White House aide said the bags included carrots, apples and sweet potatoes -- including one that elicited an exclamation from Obama about how large it was.

The bags also included special White House boxes of M&Ms.

Helping out at the food bank has become an Obama family tradition. No one from the first family made a statement or acknowledged reporters who were on hand.