[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20026]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               FOOD FINDERS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly today 
to congratulate Food Finders, a Long Beach community non-profit that is 
dedicated to providing food for the impoverished and hungry people in 
our region.
  Food Finders' specific mission is to offer an enhanced quality of 
life to those in need through a food rescue program. Volunteers collect 
and distribute food, along with other essential items, to missions, 
hospices, homeless shelters, treatment centers, senior centers and 
children's homes in both Los Angeles and Orange County, at no cost to 
the recipients. Food Finders provides approximately 42,000 meals a day 
through its services.
  Food Finders is recognized in the City of Long Beach and throughout 
the region as a leading community-based organization. They are the link 
between donors, service agencies, and the people in need. Food Finders 
has inspired hundreds of merchants to donate food, which they then 
deliver free of charge to service agencies. This makes it possible for 
the agencies to run more effectively and therefore feed more people.
  Food Finders is also a referral source for individuals, directing 
them to where they can receive help. Ninety-nine percent of food never 
comes through Food Finders' door. Volunteers pick up and deliver about 
20,000 pounds of food to recipient agencies each day. The majority of 
Food Finders' efforts are spent on facilitating connections between 
donors and recipients. They operate 200 established delivery routes 
that are managed by 325 volunteers.
  Food Finders was started in April of 1989 by Arlene Mercer, and was 
at one time operated out of her home. Food Finders has since grown from 
delivering 251,000 pounds of food in 1990 to delivering approximately 
7,000,000 pounds of food in 2003. Throughout its existence, Food 
Finders has delivered over 30 million pounds of wholesome food. This is 
equal to approximately 35,000 meals per day, or over 11,000 people who 
receive three meals a day because of the dedication of Food Finders in 
improving their quality of life.
  I look forward to working with Food Finders in the future for the 
betterment of our community.

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