[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     HONORING PANDORA REDMOND-WILLS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 19, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
tenacious and self-motivated leader, Mrs. Pandora Redmond-Wills. Mrs. 
Redmond-Wills has shown what can be done through hard work, dedication, 
and a desire to achieve success.
  Pandora Redmond-Wills (born June 29, 1967) is the owner of Hearty 
Helpings Food Pantry. She is a native of Greenville, MS, and is married 
to Charles E. Wills, Sr., to whom God has given the same passion and 
ministry to help those in need.
  Mrs. Redmond-Willis is a registered nurse, graduate from Baptist 
School of Nursing, Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to becoming a 
registered nurse, she was a licensed Practical nurse for 10 years and a 
CNA from 1987 to 1988.
  She has over 35 years of experience in nursing ranging from 
pediatrics to critical care, including five years each of working in 
the burn center and dialysis. She holds a special love for Geriatrics, 
helping the elderly and disabled.
  In 2014, the soup kitchen was born. The primary goal of the soup 
kitchen was to offer a hot meal for supper while the Salvation Army was 
already providing daily lunches.
  Considering the closure of the Salvation Army in 2018, Hearty 
Helpings Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen took on the challenge to continue 
the fight to eliminate hunger in Greenville, MS, Washington County. 
Numbers more than doubled but services continued. In 2019, Hearty 
Helpings Food Pantry moved into its current location, 749 Main St, a 
60,000 sq.ft. warehouse. During the pandemic, numbers more than doubled 
and the pantry was serving up to 800 families a week and over 500 hot 
meals a week. Through a collaboration between MARS Food, Molina 
Healthcare & Kroger, the pantry was blessed with a 16ft. delivery truck 
that allows three times as much food to be brought into the community. 
In 2022, she was awarded: the Human Rights Award, presented by Church 
Women United, she was also named 2022 Delta Hot Tamale Queen, presented 
by Main Street Greenville, and the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Award, 
presented by 100 Black Men of the Mississippi Delta.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pandora 
Redmond-Wills for her passion and dedication and tenacity to serving 
her community and desire to be an example for all.

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