[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1279-E1280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM AND VERNA BROWN OF BRONSON, FLORIDA AND THE 
                            CHILDREN'S TABLE

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                         HON. KAREN L. THURMAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 2002

  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to pay tribute to William 
and Verna Brown of Bronson, Florida. Through their organization, The 
Children's Table, the Browns provide food for needy families in North 
Central Florida. Since November of last year, the organization has 
distributed 7,346,000 pounds of food and, incredibly, this is done on a 
budget of less than $20,000! These wonderful people provide fresh 
produce, along with other foods, to families who would otherwise not be 
able to eat.
  The Browns incorporated their hobby of farming into what they truly 
love to do--help people. It all began in 1996 when the Browns fed a 
single mother and her three young children. Not long after that, The 
Children's Table was born. The Browns would trade plants grown on their 
40 acre property to local grocery stores for nonperishable food items 
that they would then deliver to the needy. Today, the Browns have 
expanded this wonderful organization to touch the lives of rural, small 
town and some large city families in 51 Florida counties, an area that 
runs from Orlando to the Georgia border and from Jacksonville to 
Pensacola. On a more personal note, they distribute thousands of pounds 
of food to a small rural community called Dunnellon, my hometown. The 
Browns love does not stop here, however, as they are collecting food to 
send to the children of Afghanistan.
  The Browns have proven that neighbors can help neighbors in very 
caring and effective ways. They've shown that the true spirit of a 
community comes to light in bad times as well as in good and they've 
extended their hands to others to join their effort. With the 
assistance of an army of volunteers, donors, various community and 
church groups, The Children's Table has grown into an increasingly 
successful operation. Their goal for each day is to feed one more 
family and to continue doing so one family at a time. These families 
are in need of temporary emergency assistance. Many of them are 
struggling to get by following a job loss, serious illness or a death 
in the family. They do all of this to teach communities that they can 
and must do more to take care of their needy. The Browns believe that 
no child or adult should be deprived of the nutrition necessary to lead 
a healthy, happy, and productive life.
  Recently the Browns were honored with the Gainesville Sun's 39th 
annual Community Service Award. Upon winning, Mr. Brown said, ``We 
didn't win it,'' as he gave credit to the 20,000 volunteers who are 
active in the organization. After all, it is the volunteers who have 
brought the Brown's dream to life. The dream of helping as many people 
as possible. As selfless as ever, Mr. Brown also gave the reason for 
The Children's Table when he said, ``People need us.''
  I am so proud of William and Verna Brown, The Children's Table, and 
all the volunteers that work so hard for such a wonderful cause. I 
would also like to submit for the Record an article from the 
Gainesville Sun that helps explain the goodwill of the Browns:


[[Page E1280]]



                      Couple Pledge To Feed Hungry


                      Gainesville Sun staff report

       When it comes to serving others, there's nothing more 
     essential than feeding the hungry.
       And that's just what Bill and Verna Brown have devoted 
     their lives to doing for the past six years.
       The Browns, co-founders of The Children's Table, an 
     organization that provides food and assistance to the rural 
     needy in 44 Florida counties, have been nominated for The 
     Gainesville Sun's 39th Annual Community Service Award.
       The roots of The Children's Table began with the efforts of 
     the couple, who owned a commercial nursery, to give away food 
     from their home garden to those who might need it. Little by 
     little, they expanded their efforts, gathering more and more 
     food to give away by purchasing it with their own money, 
     asking for donations and trading plants from their nursery. 
     They would then spend evenings delivering the food 
     themselves.
       Today, The Children's Table network distributes some 2 
     million pounds of fresh produce and USDA food to rural 
     communities every month, according to Don Ricard, president 
     of the Blessed Hope Foundation, one of many groups that works 
     with The Children's Table. Ricard wrote one of 10 letters 
     nominating the Browns for the award.
       During 2001, the Browns put together a distribution network 
     that extends north from Orlando to cover all of North Central 
     Florida. They also have recently initiated hearing screening 
     at rural food distribution sites and provided medicines to 
     the needy.
       ``I have had the pleasure of working with Bill Brown on 
     various food collection and distribution projects for the 
     past two years,'' wrote Paul Fuller, a board member of 
     Gainesville Harvest, which works with The Children's Table in 
     their common mission to feed the hungry. ``He and his wife, 
     Verna, are the finest examples of Community Service I have 
     ever known in my entire lifetime.  .  .  . These folks love 
     their fellow man and give because it is the human thing to 
     do.

     

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