THE OBAMAS CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING

By Abdon Pallasch
Sun-Times Political Writer

CHICAGO–President-elect Barack Obama and his family spent an hour handing out chickens, potatoes, bread and other Thanksgiving food to poor families on Chicago’s South Side Wednesday morning after Obama introduced his latest economic advisors. Then he shook hands with Catholic grade school students ecstatic to see him.

Many of the poor and homeless — some of whom come for food every Wednesday — screamed in disbelief as they entered the parking lot of St. Columbanus church at 71st and Calumet Drive and realized the reason they had been wanded by the U.S. Secret Service was because Obama, his wife and daughters, were standing there ready to pass out the food usually handed out by volunteers.

“At Thanksgiving, it’s important for us to remember people in need,” Obama said. “They told me the number of people coming here is up 33 percent from last year.”

About 600 families got food, said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. That’s up from 270 families last year, said the Rev. Matt Eyerman.

This is the fourth year in a row Obama has handed out food before Thanksgiving. Last year, he did it in New Hampshire.

“We started seeing increases as early as last year January,” Maehr said. “In April, we started seeing double-digit increases.

“Happy Thanksgiving — hey, don’t forget your chicken,” Obama said after hugging one woman who screamed when she saw him. Declining to give an autograph, he said, “If I sign autographs, I can’t pass out my chickens.”

Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7 , stood beside their father also handing out food in the 43-degree weather beneath the elaborate 99-year-old stained glass windows of St. Columbanus church. Obama wore a leather jacket while Michelle and the girls were bundled in winter coats and hats.

Obama said it was important to bring his daughters because, “I want them to know how fortunate they are and that they have to give back,” Obama said.

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Looks @ those kids faces when they see him. Many have tried to mock his
popularity, and derisively refer to him as a “celebrity” or “messiah,” but THIS is what it’s all about.