[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 141 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E873-E874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING AUBREY ALVAREZ AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 6, 2021

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Aubrey Alvarez, the executive 
director of Eat Greater Des Moines, as Iowan of the Week. Since its 
founding in 2013, Aubrey and the Eat Greater Des Moines team have 
helped connect numerous nonprofit organizations, businesses, and 
community leaders to work to strengthen the food system in Des Moines.
  Aubrey, who holds a degree in health and wellness management from the 
University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Public Administration 
degree from Drake University, has worked in various health and wellness 
positions throughout her professional career. Now, Aubrey works with 
the Eat Greater Des

[[Page E874]]

Moines team to make sure no food goes to waste. They emphasize the use 
of local foods and community gardens, and have a food rescue system to 
make sure restaurants and grocery stores don't throw away good food. 
Their work has also proved fruitful as they have supported 90 
community, school, and faith based edible gardens.
  One of the organization's biggest projects, Operation Fresh Produce 
Drop, started in April 2020 in response to the strains put on the food 
system due to unexpected closures and an increase in need for food. The 
Operation Fresh Produce Drop initiative began as a way to help move 
excess bulk products from wholesale distributors while also supporting 
organizations serving those affected by the pandemic. This evolved into 
distributing almost 90,000 food boxes through the USDA Farms to 
Families food box program. With a team of 3 full-time staff and no 
warehouse space or necessary equipment, Operation Fresh Produce Drop 
was only possible due to collaborations with local partners like Des 
Moines Public Schools and Forklifts of Des Moines.
  Of the over 125 groups Eat Greater Des Moines worked with, 80 percent 
were not and are still not able to order or access food through the 
Feeding America food bank network or TEFAP, which makes the work Eat 
Greater Des Moines is doing to partner with trusted community members 
to get food to individuals and families even more important.
  Aubrey is committed to not only making sure individuals and families 
in Des Moines don't go hungry, but that they also have access to fresh 
and healthy foods. It's impossible to tell how many people Aubrey's 
work has affected directly, but I do know that because of her families 
have and are still able to put delicious, fresh food on their tables. 
It is an honor to commemorate Aubrey and recognize her as the Iowan of 
the Week.

                          ____________________