First Lady Joins Party for Needy

First Lady Barbara Bush sang Christmas carols and passed out shopping bags filled with gifts Wednesday to poor children at a mission serving low-income and needy families.

She was a surprise guest when she showed up for a mid-morning party at the Central Union Mission, greeting more than 100 children and their mothers and reading a story about the birth of Jesus.

Robert Rich, the mission’s director, said many of the children were “borderline homeless,” living with friends and relatives but not in their own homes. Workers at federal agencies, as well as friends and sponsors of the mission, contributed about 500 bags of toys for the children.