[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    VISITING FOOD AND FRIENDS, A D.C.-BASED ANTI-HUNGER ORGANIZATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) is 
recognized during morning-hour debate for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, last week I had the privilege of spending 
a morning at Food and Friends, an organization that provides high-
nutrient meals and nutrition therapy for people living with life-
threatening illnesses, like HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes. It's located 
right here in Washington, DC. Five of my esteemed colleagues joined me 
on this visit, Representatives Jo Ann Emerson, Lois Capps, Jan 
Schakowsky, Barbara Lee, and Eleanor Holmes Norton. Our visit was 
enlightening and inspiring.
  Food and Friends began in 1988 when Reverend Carla Gorrell began 
making lunch for her friend who was so sick with AIDS that she was 
unable to leave the house. Reverend Gorrell recognized what is so 
basic, and yet so often overlooked. When we treat people with diseases, 
she recognized that nutritious food is an essential component of any 
medical regimen. Today, almost 20 years later, Food and Friends remains 
steadfast in its mission to provide high-nutrient meals, with care and 
compassion, to the critically ill in Washington, DC, Maryland and 
Virginia. Since 1988, Food and Friends has delivered more than 10 
million meals to nearly 16,000 individuals. The organization that began 
in a church basement now operates in a multifaceted facility with over 
50 staff members and, most impressively, 1,500 dedicated volunteers.
  While my colleagues and I were at Food and Friends, we learned a 
tremendous amount about the significance of nutritious food for those 
suffering from critical illnesses. Laura Otolski, one of the three 
full-time dieticians on staff, educated us about the importance of 
individually treating each client's nutritional needs. To this end, the 
dieticians assess clients and then collaborate with chefs to prepare 14 
different meal plans, including pureed meals for individuals who cannot 
chew solid food and meals for the homeless who may not have access to 
refrigerators and ovens.
  Food and Friends staff members also recognize that to treat an 
individual, you must also provide food for his or her children and 
caretakers. For example, if a mother is too sick to cook and a 
volunteer only delivers a meal for her, she will give it to her 
children and go without food. Therefore, Food and Friends delivers 
meals for the whole family, including a specially designed children's 
meal plan. For those who live beyond Food and Friends' delivery area, 
they are eligible for the Groceries to Go service that provides two 
bags of nonperishable groceries as well as perishable frozen meals 
prepared by Food and Friends kitchen staff. In addition to providing 
food, Food and Friends offers cooking classes, nutritional counseling 
and even a photography workshop for clients to express themselves 
through art. Through its diverse programs, Food and Friends nourishes 
the body as well as the mind and soul.
  Without a doubt, the highlight of our visit was hearing from two Food 
and Friends clients, Ajani Johnson and Crystal Wood. They described the 
hopelessness they felt when first learning about their illnesses. How 
quickly he felt sick. How far her cancer had spread. But then they told 
us about the gift of food that changed the course of their lives. The 
food--and the friendship of staff and volunteers that accompanied it--
renewed their physical strength and belief in their ability to fight 
the disease. They became passionate when talking about the power of 
food to improve their quality of life while battling deadly illnesses. 
They also wanted us to know that they're not just clients of Food and 
Friends, they are also volunteers of the organization. They want others 
to experience the nourishment and compassion that was freely offered to 
them.
  Mr. Speaker, Food and Friends is not alone in serving meals to the 
sick in this country. It is part of a national and international 
network of 120 agencies collectively serving 10 million meals to 
individuals each year. The Association of Nutrition Services Agencies 
is currently working with the Congressional Hunger Center on a Food as 
Medicine initiative. The purpose of the Food as Medicine campaign is to 
educate local and national leaders, academics and citizens about the 
value of nutrition services for those fighting disease.
  We have the information we need to make great strides in recognizing 
the therapeutic effects of nutrition for those living with life-
threatening illnesses, and I urge my colleagues to work together to 
ensure that all critically ill Americans have access to food and 
nutrition therapy as part of their treatment plans. These services 
improve the efficacy of medications and the quality of life of those 
suffering and their families. It is a simple but crucial step in 
improving the quality of health care in this country.

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