[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING RIVERDALE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 22, 1997

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the Riverdale Neighborhood House is a 
settlement house serving 5,000 residents of the northwest Bronx, 
providing programs for parents, their infants and toddlers, and after 
school programs. It not only serves young families, but provides 
outreach and support to homebound senior citizens. Its teen center 
offers job training and a place to congregate, or as the teens might 
say, ``hang out.'' Riverdale Neighborhood House also had a pool for 
local residents, a summer camp for kids, and a thrift shop.
  Not only does the Riverdale Neighborhood House do a lot of good for 
the community, it has been doing it for a long time for this year it 
celebrates its 125th anniversary. RNH started as a neighborhood lending 
library for workers to which Riverdale residents subsequently gave land 
and money to promote social services as well as a reading room. In time 
it helped servicemen in the Spanish American War, fought problems of 
sanitation and contagious diseases, aided soldiers' families in World 
Wars I and II, opened a kindergarten and a seeming infinite number of 
programs to aid the community and its residents.
  On its anniversary, RNH is honoring Paul Elston, a member of its 
board who has served on so many organizations working for the community 
that his life would deem to epitomize public service. Riverdale 
Neighborhood House and people like Paul Elston deserve the acclaim of 
all people, for they show the benefit and goodness which flows to the 
community when good people act to benefit all of us.

                          ____________________