[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 122 (Monday, July 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ANNE HOLCOMB

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 2023

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Anne 
Holcomb's twenty-two years of service as the executive director of 
Humboldt County's food bank, Food For People.
  Ms. Holcomb grew up in Alfred, Maine, and attended the University of 
Maine. She began her decades of service helping people with 
disabilities transition into community life, and served as the 
executive director of Southern Maine Parent Awareness. She moved to 
Humboldt County in December 2000. During her tenure as executive 
director of Food For People, Ms. Holcomb helped dramatically improve 
the scope of the food bank's services. The food bank expanded 
warehousing, trucking, and direct services to reach the far corners of 
rural Humboldt County.
  Under Ms. Holcomb's leadership, Food For People grew to operate 18 
unique programs for children and adults at more than 85 locations. 
These programs included the Backpacks for Kids weekend hunger relief 
effort, Children's Summer Lunch and Food Box Program, Mobile Produce 
Pantry, Free Produce Markets, and Senior and Homebound programs. A 
large network of pantries for localized response, nutrition and 
education programs, and CalFresh outreach was developed under Ms. 
Holcomb.
  In 2000, Food For People's main facility in Eureka was closed due to 
a major sewage leak. This preceded the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
during which the community's need for food resources surged. The food 
bank continued operating to meet this need through creative problem-
solving and hard work on the part of Food For People's staff, board, 
and dedicated volunteers. During this time, Ms. Holcomb launched a 
major capital campaign to build a new state-of-the-art food bank, 
warehouse, and office facility. This newly opened facility will allow 
Food For People to better serve the community, especially in times of 
crisis.
  During her long career with Food For People, Ms. Holcomb always put 
nutrition first, ensuring that households, children, and seniors have 
access to high quality food distributed in a dignified manner. She has 
been a champion for hunger relief statewide and was also a mentor for 
staff and a committed community partner.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Holcomb has dedicated decades of her life to serving 
people in need and addressing hunger and poverty. Her exemplary service 
to Food For People and the people of Humboldt County has been 
meaningful and will have a positive effect for many years. Therefore, 
please join me in congratulating her on her years of inspiring work and 
wishing her the best on her next chapter.

                          ____________________