[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 25, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       JOYCE ROTHERMEL AND GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2011

  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce several milestones 
in southwestern Pennsylvania.
  On June 7, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will celebrate 
its 30th anniversary and observe Hunger Awareness Day. On that day, the 
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will also celebrate the 
important work done by its co-founder and CEO, Joyce Rothermel, who is 
retiring after 25 years.
  Hunger is a widespread problem that affects millions of households 
across the United States. In 2009, one out of every eight Americans 
required emergency food assistance, and in 2010, over 40 million people 
relied on Food Stamps for their daily meals. According to the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, approximately 17 million of the nation's 
hungry are children. In Pennsylvania, roughly one in seven people are 
not getting enough to eat.
  Hunger has a drastic effect on the health of those who suffer from 
it. Children from food-insecure households are more likely to fall 
behind in school, show signs of depression, exhibit cognitive 
disabilities and behavioral problems, and are more likely to be 
hospitalized with preventable illnesses. Similarly, hungry seniors are 
also more likely to suffer from poor health compared to food-secure 
seniors.
  That's why it's so important to raise public awareness about the 
problem of hunger our nation faces today with events like Hunger 
Awareness Day. It's essential that every community across the country 
take action to eradicate the scourge of hunger.
  I'm proud to say that in our region, a lot of our friends and 
neighbors have stepped up to meet this challenge. The Greater 
Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has tirelessly fought hunger in 
southwestern Pennsylvania for the past 30 years. With the help of more 
than 400 affiliate food banks and member agencies, the Greater 
Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is able to serve more than 122,000 
hungry people each month.
  The Food Bank has done an outstanding job at providing much-needed 
healthy food to the hungry of southwestern Pennsylvania. During fiscal 
year 2009-2010, it distributed more than 22 million pounds of food 
throughout 11 counties. Despite declining food donations nationwide, 
the Food Bank has managed to supply more than 50 percent of the food 
offered by local soup kitchens, 87 percent of the food distributed by 
the region's food pantries, and 43 percent of the food distributed by 
local shelters in recent years. I would like to commend the Food Bank 
for the fantastic work it has done on behalf of southwestern 
Pennsylvania.
  Much of the Food Bank's success can be traced to the work of one 
person--Joyce Rothermel, who co-founded the Greater Pittsburgh 
Community Food Bank in 1980 and became its CEO in 1987.
  During her 25 year tenure, Joyce oversaw the growth of the Food Bank 
into one of the most respected non-profit groups in the nation. Among 
other honors, the Food Bank has won awards from America's Second 
Harvest, received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and 
obtained the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organization's 
Standards of Excellence Certification under Joyce's leadership.
  This year, in recognition of her leadership and service, Joyce 
received both the Dick Goebel Public Service Award from Feeding America 
and the John E. McGrady Award from the Catholic Youth Association of 
Pittsburgh. In past years, Joyce's commitment to service has been 
recognized by a variety of organizations, including the YWCA, the 
Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, the Public Relations Society of 
America, and the United Nations Association.
  I can add from personal experience that Joyce has been an effective 
and tireless advocate on hunger issues with the region's Congressional 
delegation as well. My staff and I have worked closely with Joyce over 
many years to support and improve federal anti-hunger programs. It was 
always a pleasure to work with her, and we will miss her.
  I want to commend Joyce Rothermel for her decades of commitment to 
eliminating hunger in the greater Pittsburgh community, and I want to 
congratulate her on the beginning of her much-deserved retirement. And 
in closing, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Greater 
Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for the extraordinary work it has done 
on behalf of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania.

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