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“RECOGNIZING THE FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E279-E280 on Feb. 13, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 13, 2009
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the dedication and labors of the people at Greenville branch of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The Greenville branch of the Food Bank has distributed more than 50 million pounds of food to people in 10 counties since 1999. While this reflects a tremendous amount of success and effort, it also highlights the intensity of hunger facing families in eastern North Carolina.
The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina was established in 1980 to provide food to people at risk of hunger in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina. In 2006-07, the Food Bank distributed over 32.6 million pounds of food through 870 partner agencies including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and afterschool programs for children.
Nearly 30 percent of the people served by the Food Bank's network are children, and another 18 percent are elderly. Thirty-eight percent of the families served are the ``working poor''--people who work hard and still have to choose between eating and other basic necessities such as medicine and housing.
Even before this severe economic downturn, families were struggling to put food on the table. And as the crisis deepens, it is intensifying the struggle for millions of Americans to keep from going hungry.
Food banks across the country are seeing appreciable increases in requests at a time when the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than one in ten American households are struggling to get enough food.
In the nation with the safest, most abundant food supply in the world, it is unconscionable that so many people go hungry. There is a moral obligation and a necessary responsibility we have as Americans to ensure a strong country for future generations. I am proud that the good people at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina have answered that call.
Madam Speaker, today I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating and acknowledging the efforts of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, which embodies the essence of what we believe in: local citizens and businesses pulling together to help solve a local problem.
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