The holidays are the perfect time to go out and do something good for those around you. There's no other time like the holidays that brings out the best in people. Think about all the great, heartwarming real stories you hear about during the holidays. It's almost like it's contagious.
If you're thinking about helping, it's important to think about all the people who won't be able to celebrate their holidays in a traditional way. Some may be alone, or some may be stuck somewhere like a hospital. Nothing sucks the cheer out of the holidays like spending it in a hospital.
The most recent "celebrity" who is making the headlines for helping out this holiday season is someone you should probably no very well. The person I'm talking about is the former president of the United States of America, Barack Obama. He recently visited the Children's National hospital in D.C.
Good deeds can be contagious, so the more people who hear about it, the better. No one can quite make waves like a former president of the United States of America, especially when it comes to doing something positive for the community. President Barack Obama took time away from his busy scheduling running his new production company to visit the Children's National hospital in Washington DC. This past Wednesday he put on a red cape, nice and fluffy with Christmas spirit, to pass out gifts to the children at the hospital.
It's one thing to see Santa stroll into your hospital, but it's another to see the former leader of the free world. Obama is a very popular president with the youth, so the children lit up when seeing him, and the staff was incredibly happy as well.
The Children's National hospital in Washington DC has a very special place in the Obama's hearts. Back when Michelle Obama was serving as first lady, she would spend every holiday season visiting that hospital and reading to the children staying there. One of their daughters would sometimes join her as well. This year it was Barack's turn to spread the good cheer.
Barack Obama didn't just come to the hospital to spread good cheer, he also had a big bag of presents with him to hand out to the children. Obama visited several rooms, as well as the playroom, as he handed out gifts like jigsaw puzzles, race cars, and other wonderful treats. Unfortunately not everyone could get a visit, but he did record a video message to spread to everyone who didn't get a chance to visit with him.
The staff at Children's National made sure to give Obama a warm greeting for coming to see them. They sang him "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which he thanks them for. "At a time that obviously is tough for folks, and as the dad of two girls, I can only imagine, in that situation, to have nurses, staff and doctors and people who are caring for them, and looking after them, and listening to them and just there for them and holding their hands."
Obama took many selfies with the staff and patients at the hospital, clad in jeans and a T-shirt, he's the chillest Santa you've ever seen. In a subsequent tweet, he said "Merry Christmas and happy holidays to the extraordinary kids, families, and staff at Children's National. And thanks for humoring me as your stand-in Santa."
