[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THE RESOURCE CONNECTION AND THE PEOPLE OF CALAVERAS COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANIEL E. LUNGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2010

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize and honor the great work The Resource Connection has done on 
behalf of the community of Calaveras County.
  Having toured The Resource Connection Food Bank and witnessed the 
good work of Jeannie Hayward and her staff, it does not surprise me to 
learn that the generosity of the people of Calaveras County was 
recognized in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ``2009 Rural 
Development Progress Report.''
  The residents of Calaveras County and the staff at The Resource 
Connection need to be congratulated as a community that consistently 
grows to meet and feed an ever-increasing need--no matter what. There 
was a time when the big hearts of this community were larger than the 
facility that housed it and the food bank literally had to turn away 
food or leave it outside at night.
  Now, thanks to a $1.36 million Community Facilities loan from USDA 
Rural Development--for which I wrote a letter of support--the food bank 
can operate out of a new, 5,500-square-foot building with offices and 
meeting space. It's been open just over a year and it was a blessing 
over the 2009 Holiday Season when the need was so great.
  Ms. Hayward is especially proud of the Santa's Express Committee, 
which served over 800 families at Thanksgiving and 1,300 families at 
Christmas. This was made possible because of the success of the Santa's 
Express Food Drive, which netted 28,000 pounds of food. In addition, 
the Food Bank was able to provide clothing and toys for the children of 
these families. Fraternal groups such as the Rotary, Lions, VFW, and 
others were team partners in this effort.
  I am pleased to recognize and congratulate The Resource Connection 
and the people of Calaveras County on their accomplishment in being 
recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.