[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 139 (Friday, August 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HERO JEFF WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETH VAN DUYNE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 25, 2023

  Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our Texas-24 
Hometown Hero, Jeff Williams. In 2012, Jeff founded Taste Project, an 
organization that provides meals in Fort Worth to those in need. Jeff 
knew what food scarcity felt like growing up in a family of 4 where 
both of his parents worked hard to keep food on the table even though 
money was tight. When he was younger, his parents would sometimes skip 
meals to make sure him and his sister had dinner. Jeff's upbringing 
gave him the idea to create a place where members of the community 
could go to always get an affordable meal. In 2017, the Taste Project 
opened a pay-what-you-can community restaurant in Fort Worth, the Taste 
Community Restaurant, where diners can pay as little as a penny for a 
meal. Beyond the restaurant, the Taste Project empowers and provides 
hope to North Texans through culinary classes, job training programs, 
and even a community garden that helps teach people gardening skills. 
In the last 6 years, Jeff and Taste Community Restaurant have helped 
more than 150,000 people and are currently serving more than 1,000 
people a week. Jeff and his team work hard every day to make sure they 
help as many people as possible. I'd like to thank Jeff for his 
dedication to serving the people and families of North Texas.

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