[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 4, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING TAMMY ROSS AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2021

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tammy Ross and The 
East Union ASPIRE ``More'' Learning Center in Afton, Iowa for the 
tenacity and persistence they show daily to serve the people of their 
community. Tammy, ASPIRE More, and the town of Afton are the blueprints 
for what being an Iowan is all about, and what it means to support your 
neighbors.
  ASPIRE More was opened in 2012 after they received a 21st Century 
Community Learning Center grant to assist with their original funding. 
Every morning and afternoon ASPIRE offers their services to students in 
transitional kindergarten through the 5th grade. It's on an income-
based tuition, and they also work with DHS childcare assistance. During 
this time, they offer homework assistance, general enrichment 
activities, and activities that help with social and emotional 
learning.
  Tammy's original goal was to help the parents of their community by 
offering before and after school support to k-5 students, but Tammy and 
the volunteers of ASPIRE More have adjusted their services over the 
years based on the needs of their community. Now, not only does ASPIRE 
offer before and after school care, they also provide food and clothing 
to their community via their food pantry and thrift store.
  Recently, Union County SCICF awarded the East Union ASPIRE ``More'' 
Food Pantry $5,000 towards a crisis grant during this crisis. The East 
Union ASPIRE ``More'' Food Pantry was able to serve hundreds of people 
in the school district in the last seven months of 2020. With the 
crisis grant and the generosity of local individuals and organizations, 
they are able to meet the needs of the people of Afton as they all 
continue to work together through this pandemic.
  Tammy insists that the only way they have been able to reach and help 
so many people in Afton is because of the support of the school 
district and the community. When they first started the store, there 
was some doubt of it being able to make a dent in the way it helped 
people in their small town. Through the hard work of Tammy and the 
volunteers, as well as the support and love from the people of their 
community, however, they built it up into something that genuinely 
reaches and helps people. 4H groups, churches, and other local 
organizations have all helped out through their time and donations, 
allowing everyone to take part in some way to give back however they 
can.
  ASPIRE considers the work they do very rewarding, and the community 
of Afton is incredibly grateful for the way their neighbors have all 
pulled together whenever there is a crisis or a need, and the way their 
fellow Iowans seem to always give more than they have. I am proud to 
recognize Tammy Ross and The East Union ASPIRE ``More'' Learning Center 
as my Iowan of the week.

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