Jill Biden tells military children at Marine Corps Reserve toy drive to remember that they are loved

WASHINGTON (AP) — Less than 10 minutes was all it took for a large pile of toys donated by the White House staff to disappear as Jill Biden and children from military families sorted them into boxes as part of the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign for the less fortunate.

The White House is a longtime supporter of the program, which has been helping families for 77 years, said Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson IV, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

“We're making a significant impact right here in the nation's capital, where these toys will go to kids in need,” he said at a White House event hosted by the first lady.

Last year, the program delivered over 25 million toys to more than 10 million children nationwide, he said. “This year we think we're going to set another record, so we're really excited,” he said.

Jill Biden told several dozen military children who sat in front of her on the floor of the East Room facing two large glittering Christmas trees flanking the doorway that they are loved. Her father and late son served in the military.

“If you only remember one thing for the holidays, after all the wrapping paper is cleaned up, let it be this: You are loved,” she said. “There are so many people who care about you, from your family and your friends, from your teachers and your classmates, to the president and me.”

“And the best thing that we can do with that love is to let it overflow, to share it with others who might really need it,” she added.

After her brief remarks, the first lady asked the children: “Are you guys ready to get sorting?” And off they went toward the large pile of dolls, stuffed animals, sports gear, vehicles, books, puzzles and other items, including a copy of “Delaware Opoly” — a Monopoly-style board game themed after President Joe Biden's home state.

First lady Jill Biden sorts toys as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden speaks as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. At right is Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden laughs during a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, speaks as first lady Jill Biden listens during a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Children of Marine Corps families sort toys during a Toys for Tots event with first lady Jill Biden in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden sorts toys as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden speaks as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden speaks as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. At right is Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden sorts toys as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden sorts toys as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden sorts toys as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden arrives with children of Marine Corps families as she hosts a Toys for Tots event in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

First lady Jill Biden helps to sort toys as she hosts a Toys for Tots event with Marine Corps families in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn will return to World Cup ski racing next weekend for a pair of super-G events in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as she continues her comeback at 40 years old.

Vonn teased her return in an Instagram post through her sponsor, Red Bull, on Friday morning. She said, “My body is finally put back together. I hear St. Moritz is pretty nice this time of year.” The U.S. Ski Team then confirmed she will race in St. Moritz.

She's won five of her 82 World Cup races on the course at St. Moritz. There will be super-G competitions next Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s the coolest thing ever,” said Picabo Street, a two-time Olympic medalist and Vonn's former teammate. “I’m not surprised at all. I’ve seen her intermittently and she’s stayed in great shape. She is the hardest working person I’ve met in my life — period.”

It will be Vonn's first major race since February 2019, when she took third in the downhill during the world championships in Sweden. An assortment of injuries, including to her knee, sent her into retirement. But a partial knee replacement last April has her feeling good enough again to give racing another chance.

Vonn earned enough points to be eligible to compete on the World Cup circuit through a series of lower-level competitions last weekend in Copper Mountain, Colorado. She’s been testing out the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek as a forerunner in training runs this week. She's didn't take the hill Friday, but will again in a forerunning capacity ahead of the downhill on Saturday and the super-G on Sunday.

“She’s living her best life," said Street, who's doing commentary work at the Birds of Prey races this weekend for NBC. “She’s earned every second of it.”

When Vonn left the tour, she had 82 World Cup wins — the record for a woman at the time and within reach of the all-time Alpine mark of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s record held by Vonn was eclipsed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, whose 99 wins are more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport.

“It’s awesome” to have Vonn back, said Czech Republic ski racer/snowboarder Ester Ledecka, who won the 2018 Olympic super-G in South Korea as Vonn finished tied for sixth. “It was for me a little bit sad to see her finishing her career. I thought, ‘Hey, you should finish it when you want to, not because your body is not capable to let you do your runs.' I’m very happy that she’s back and she’s feeling good and she’s happy.

“I think she’ll be also very fast. So, I’m very happy to have her around.”

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Forerunner Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, skis down the course before the training runs at the women's World Cup downhill race, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Forerunner Lindsey Vonn skis during a women's World Cup downhill training run, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Beaver Creek. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Forerunner Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, skis down the course before the training runs at the women's World Cup downhill race, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Lindsey Vonn prepares to be a forerunner at a women's World Cup downhill training run, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Forerunner Lindsey Vonn skis during a women's World Cup downhill training run, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Beaver Creek. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Forerunner Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, skis down the course before the training runs at the women's World Cup downhill race, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)