[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO THE GREATER BATON ROUGE FOOD BANK IN LOUISIANA

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                           HON. NEWT GINGRICH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 1997

  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, since becoming the majority party, my 
Republican colleagues and I have sought ways to downsize the Federal 
government, lower taxes, and return power, money, and influence to the 
American people. We believe that local problems are best solved at the 
local level by local citizens who have a greater knowledge of the issue 
at hand and more passion to solve the problem that a team of removed 
Federal bureaucrats in Washington, DC.
  However, as government is asked to do less to solve our Nation's 
problems, individuals must do more. Today I proudly celebrate the 
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in Louisiana, which embodies the essence 
of what we believe in: local citizens and businesses pulling together 
to solve a local problem. It is neighbor helping neighbor in the true 
volunteeristic spirit which so attracted de Tocqueville to this great 
country during his tour of America in the early 1830's.
  In June of this year, I had the privilege of visiting the Greater 
Baton Rouge Food Bank with Congressman Baker, who personally raised 
from private sources nearly all of the $525,000 needed to purchase and 
renovate an old warehouse that now houses the food bank. In addition to 
the purchase and renovation funds coming primarily from private 
sources, a full 95 percent of the food distributed to the food bank is 
donated from private sources.
  The food bank has a partnership with Associated Grocers in the 
Greater Baton Rouge area and houses its reclamation center. Bent boxes 
and cans are sent to the center from the member grocery stores, credits 
are given to the stores for write-offs on damaged goods, and the usable 
items are given to the food bank.
  The food bank's mission is to meet emergency, short-term needs of the 
hungry in the greater Baton Rouge area. In 1996, 3,200 people per day 
were assisted by the food bank. Of those needy individuals, 44 percent 
were children and 16 percent were elderly.
  The food bank also developed and coordinates a program called 
Lagniappe du Coeur (``something extra from the heart'') which collects 
leftover food area restaurants like Popeye's, packages it in single 
meal units, and distributes it to shelters. The goal is to have zero 
waste of food in the Baton Rouge community. This is the State's first 
and only perishable food recovery program.
  Those who wish to learn more about the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank 
can do so by accessing its web page at www.challenger.net/GBRFB. The 
food bank can also be e-mailed at: BRFOODBANK@AOL.
  I am a strong believer in volunteerism. Some can donate money or 
goods; some can donate their time. But everyone can donate something. 
My philosophy is simple: if America has been good to you, go find a 
fellow American to be good to. I hold up the Greater Baton Rouge Food 
Bank as a shining example of this spirit.

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