[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 34 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          REV. PATRICIA BRUGER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 2017

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the 
outstanding achievements of Rev. Patricia Bruger, her contributions to 
CUMAC and all those in need.
  Patricia has a Master of Divinity degree with over 25 years of 
experience in social and civic ministries. She is an ordained Elder of 
The United Methodist Church, a certified Mentor for the Board of 
Ordained Ministry, a certified counselor for the Clergy Partnership on 
Domestic Violence, and a member of the Bishop's Task Force on Urban 
Minorities.
  Prior to attending seminary and coming to CUMAC, Patricia worked for 
the Girl Scouts of America and was a public school teacher. She is a 
committed social servant dedicated to the eradication of hunger and 
poverty through direct source and broad advocacy efforts. She was a 
founding member of, and remains active in the Emergency Food Coalition 
of Passaic County (newly operating as a CUMAC program), the NJ 
statewide Anti-Hunger Coalition, and the Paterson Alliance. Pat has 
been a leading voice for her community, advocating for hunger to be 
addressed in the state budget, as well as rallying support for SNAP 
benefits and Breakfast after the Bell, to feed hungry students so that 
they can have a proper education.
  Patricia has been the Executive Director of CUMAC for over 26 years. 
She has led the organization through a tremendous period of growth from 
operating out of an abandoned church to purchasing its own 28,000 
square foot facility and from a small food pantry to a multiservice 
agency serving over 40,000 people in need every year, providing food 
assistance, disaster relief, job training, supportive housing, and hope 
to a community facing pervasive poverty.
  Patricia's forward-thinking and leadership abilities has encouraged 
and inspired staff and volunteers to partake in CUMAC's mission of 
taking care of others. She has raised awareness about pervasive poverty 
through this organization, and strives to fulfill the needs of people 
who do not have the adequate resources to function in their daily 
lives. She has worked closely with other feeding programs throughout 
Passaic County and northern New Jersey to bring about change in the 
community, and to assist in eradicating poverty.
  Through a lifetime of service and leadership, she has aided, 
encouraged and inspired many. Her vision and strength have had a 
profound impact on the movement to fight hunger, poverty and injustice 
in Passaic County and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, family and friends, 
all those whose lives she has touched, and me, in recognizing the work 
of Rev. Patricia Bruger and her strong desire to help those in need 
across the world.

                          ____________________