[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31586]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING CAROLYN DOWNS

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, Carolyn Downs is the outgoing 
executive director of The Banquet in Sioux Falls, SD who is stepping 
down after 20 years of service to the Sioux Falls community.
  The Banquet, an ecumenical ministry, has been providing free meals to 
the Sioux Falls community since 1985. In the past year, The Banquet 
served 137,000 guests. Since she started her work with The Banquet in 
1988, Carolyn has organized thousands of volunteers and served 
countless meals. Carolyn learned from her mother at a young age that 
sharing meals was a way that people show their love to others. The 
secret to her success is her ability to put herself in other people's 
shoes. Carolyn encourages her volunteers to not only provide food to 
those that come to her center, but also to express compassion and 
understanding through conversation and interaction. Carolyn's love for 
others is reflected in her perpetual smile and her giving spirit.
  South Dakota's communities are held together by dedicated individuals 
like Carolyn Downs who commit their time and energy to helping those 
around them. She is truly an example of what it means to serve others. 
Her leadership and dedication to The Banquet will be greatly missed. It 
gives me great pleasure to congratulate Carolyn on a successful career 
and wish her the best on her retirement.

                          ____________________