[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           KLAMATH FOOD BANK

 Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to give 
tribute to some Oregon heroes. Over the past year, I have come to the 
Senate floor on several occasions to describe the tragic events in the 
Klamath Basin last year. Today, I wish to salute some of the heroes, 
who when watching their neighbors in need, responded with great 
compassion and service to their community.
  In April of last year, the farm economy of Klamath Falls was sent 
into a tailspin when the decision was made to forego water deliveries 
to farmers in favor of protecting threatened and endangered fishes. 
Almost overnight, the devastating effects of the water shut-off began 
to be felt. In one month's time, the number of families seeking 
assistance from the local food bank jumped by seven hundred.
  The response from the surrounding community was incredible. Farmers, 
car dealerships, coffee shops, gas stations, banks, schools, and 
countless others came together to lend their support to folks in the 
Klamath Basin. On June 15 of last year, Joe Gilliam, President of the 
Oregon Grocers Association, with the help of grocers from around the 
State, gathered 240,000 pounds of food. This food helped feed the 
community for nearly two months.
  In August, Oregon Senator and farmer Gary George of Pendleton, Oregon 
decided that he too had to do something. He set out and, with the help 
of Oregonians In Action, raised $30,000. Also in August, K-Dove Radio, 
Perry Atkinson and his son Oregon Senator Jason Atkinson, and sixty 
churches in the Medford area, joined together in collecting 27,000 
pounds of food. They delivered it in two twenty-four-foot Ryder trucks.
  The examples of kindness go on and on. For as tragic as the situation 
last year in the Basin was, Oregonians from around the State responded 
with an equal level of benevolence. With the help of hundreds of 
community volunteers and under the direction of Niki Sampson, the 
Klamath Falls-Lake County Food Bank has distributed 830,000 pounds of 
food and non-food products.
  This has been a very emotional year, and as a U.S. Senator and as an 
Oregonian, I am very proud of how the people in my State have 
responded. The generosity shown by so many truly reaffirms one's faith 
in the goodness of people. In my mind, every single person who 
volunteered his or her time or resources is a hero. Today, I salute the 
workers, the volunteers, and all those who gave of themselves to help 
this community in need.

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