President Obama spent his final Martin Luther King Jr. Day in office by helping paint a mural of the revered civil rights leader at a local shelter, where the first family recently donated the girls’ old playground set.
Obama, joined by his wife Michelle and Democratic D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, arrived at Jobs Have Priority, a family shelter in the Woodland neighborhood of southeast D.C., shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday.
“Hey guys!” Obama said as they walked up to the kids at the shelter. “It’s Barack Obama!” he said, echoing one of the children.
The Obamas worked alongside some of the kids to put the final touches on a mural of King in the building’s community room.
“I just want you to know, I didn’t do all this,” the president told the press after he worked on the service project.
“We are painting in silence,” Mrs. Obama said to the school-aged children, a few minutes into their project. “Does anyone have any good jokes? Age-appropriate?”
Later, the Obamas went outside to the playground their daughters, Malia and Sasha, had used the set during their earlier years living at the White House. “Malia and Sasha’s Castle,” as it has come to be known, was covered with excited children climbing and playing on it. Obama pushed two girls on the swings, while the first lady talked with children and later showed a boy how to use the rope swing.
“Brings back memories,” Obama said, as he pushed one of the girls on the swing.
FL Michelle Obama took a final swing on playset used by Sasha and Malia outside Oval office; donated to a homeless shelter in Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/VCSpcLcJtH
— Stephen Crowley (@Stcrow) January 16, 2017
.@FLOTUS taking one final swing on what used to be her daughters’ WH play set. It’s been donated to a DC shelter. pic.twitter.com/OJkMhEiaf9
— darlene superville (@dsupervilleap) January 16, 2017
