[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         MS. MARY ELLEN HEISING HONORED FOR FEEDING THE HUNGRY

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                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 1995

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mary 
Ellen Heising, a woman who, for 20 years, has led the charge to end 
hunger in Santa Clara County, CA and across our Nation.
  Ms. Heising joined the Food Bank of Santa Clara County in 1975, 
engineered a merger with the Food Bank of San Mateo County and has 
served as Executive Director of the resulting Second Harvest Food Bank 
of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties for the past 17 years. Today, 
Second Harvest is the seventh largest food bank in the Nation and helps 
feed as many as 183,000 people every month in Santa Clara and San Mateo 
counties. It is arguably one of the most successful non-profit agencies 
around and deservedly received the nationwide Excellence in Food 
Banking Award as Food Bank of the Year in 1994.
  Under Ms. Heising's skillful leadership, Second Harvest Food Bank 
runs some of the most innovative and effective programs to aid those in 
need. Ms. Heising began Operation Brown Bag, which provides a weekly 
bag of groceries to some 10,000 low-income seniors. It is the Nation's 
largest private supplemental food program. The Food Bank operates the 
Nation's biggest canned food drive too--involving 1,200 companies, 150 
schools and thousands of individuals.
  Those who know Mary Ellen Heising know that it is her spirit and 
dogged commitment to the welfare of our entire community that have made 
the Second Harvest Food Bank a success. She has helped thousands 
maintain health and dignity.
  Mr. Speaker, this week at a luncheon in San Jose, CA, Ms. Heising is 
being honored by colleagues and friends for her intelligent and 
passionate leadership. I would like to invite my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to join with me in expressing gratitude and 
appreciation to Mary Ellen Heising for her efforts.

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