[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO JOHN ARNOLD

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                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 15, 2010

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Arnold, the 
Executive Director of the Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. 
After working tirelessly for 28 years to help feed the hungry, John is 
retiring due to his advanced, inoperable cancer. My prayers and 
heartfelt thanks go to John and his family.
  As the Executive Director for the West Michigan Food Bank for the 
past 21 years, John has run one of the most innovative food banks in 
the entire country. During his career, John has helped secure and 
distribute more than 300 million pounds of food aid across Michigan.
  In an ambitious effort to end hunger throughout Michigan, John's food 
bank took on the challenge of adding the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to 
their service area. In addition to extending service to remote rural 
areas, John has developed more than 1,300 outlets for food, to ensure 
that every person in their 40-county service area has reasonable access 
to food aid.
  The West Michigan Food Bank is so successful that it is able to 
provide food for less than a tenth of what it would cost at a grocery 
store. In 2010, the food bank expects to hit the 25 million pound mark 
for distributed food.
  In 1994, under John's leadership, the food bank launched their 
``Waste Not, Want Not Project'' with Michigan State University, to 
determine how communities in America can adequately address their 
hunger problems. This project has won international awards and has 
allowed the food bank to meet its goal of 15 percent growth per year 
until all needs are met.
  As a participant in my church's food distribution program in Grand 
Rapids, I recognize full well the dramatic impact a little food aid can 
make in the lives of struggling families.
  Although John's life may regrettably be cut short by his aggressive 
cancer, he should take comfort in knowing that his efforts have helped 
save and improve the lives of thousands of hungry people across 
Michigan. We are most grateful for and appreciative of all that John 
Arnold has done to aid the poor and hungry people in Western and 
Northern Michigan. He serves as a model for all food bank directors and 
executives across our Nation.

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