[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE PANTRY OF BROWARD, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an 
organization that has helped countless individuals in my community. The 
Pantry of Broward, Inc., is a not for profit organization that provides 
food and support services to low-income seniors and to grandparents 
raising grandchildren.
  In Florida alone, there are 147,893 grandparents raising 
grandchildren, yet 8 percent of grandparent caregivers live in poverty, 
as do nearly 10 percent of all seniors. For those who live in Broward 
County, and the children who rely on them, the Pantry of Broward is an 
indispensible resource.
  Each month, the Pantry of Broward delivers a 60 pound box of food 
items to hundreds of seniors. However, the Pantry of Broward is much 
more than a food bank. They also provide seniors with transportation 
services, legal assistance, access to affordable medical care, and a 
slew of other resources that make life just a little bit easier for 
Broward's struggling seniors.
  Whether an individual needs help finding affordable housing, is 
having trouble understanding complicated medical or insurance forms, or 
simply needs a pair of eyeglasses fixed, the Pantry of Broward is there 
to help.
  Seniors in south Florida, like those around the Nation, have worked 
hard and provided for themselves and others their entire lives, yet 
often, despite incredible need, they are too proud to ask for a helping 
hand. For this reason, the Pantry of Broward provides assistance in a 
caring, dignified manner, mindful of their clients' privacy and self-
esteem.
  Madam Speaker, while we in Congress work to revive our Nation's 
economy, it is organizations like the Pantry of Broward that serve as a 
lifeline to the seniors and families in our districts struggling to 
make it from one day to the next. I am truly grateful for the services 
they provide to my constituents and commend them on their extraordinary 
work.

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