[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYING TRIBUTE TO TOM DENNIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to the selfless service of Tom Dennis of Grand Junction, 
Colorado. For more than seven years, Tom has shown incredible devotion 
to the betterment of his community by helping to feed the hungry. It is 
my privilege to recognize his service before this body of Congress and 
this nation today.
  Tom began this noble mission in 1997 when he received word that a Los 
Angeles food bank was short on food. He figured the farming communities 
on Colorado's Western Slope could help, so he organized a donation of 
potatoes weighing three-thousand pounds from a farm in Delta, Colorado. 
This rewarding experience encouraged Tom to further involve himself. 
Building on that foundation, he founded a nonprofit venture called Go-
el. The mission of Go-el is to provide bare necessities to the less 
fortunate, focusing on the less fortunate living on the Western Slope. 
The structure of Go-el is such that it reaches out to national 
organizations for donations, and then Go-el will distribute these 
donations to more specialized charities in the area.
  Over the time Go-el has existed, the organization has distributed 
three-million pounds of donated products. As a testament to his 
service, the Grand Junction Kiwanis Club recently recognized Tom's 
leadership, by honoring him with their 2004 Citizen of the Year award.
  Mr. Speaker, Tom Dennis is truly an outstanding citizen dedicated to 
his fellow citizens in his community. His leadership and selflessness 
are assets to his Grand Junction community and to those in need. I wish 
to thank Tom for his efforts and wish him all the best in his future 
endeavors.

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