[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18309-18310]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          WITNESSES TO HUNGER

 Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I stand today to recognize the 5-
year anniversary of Witnesses to Hunger. Launched in 2008, Witnesses to 
Hunger is a research and advocacy project founded by the Center for 
Hunger-Free Communities at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.
  In 2008, Dr. Mariana Chilton provided cameras to 42 single-parent 
women in Philadelphia, simply asking that they use them to take 
pictures to tell us about their lives and their children. These women, 
seeing the opportunity to spread awareness and create change, accepted 
Dr. Chilton's challenge and started documenting the poverty and

[[Page 18310]]

hunger that they face on a daily basis. Their photographs provide a 
window into the lives of mothers who understand the challenges of 
raising a family on a limited income.
  Since inception this project has grown, expanding throughout 
Pennsylvania and the country. Over the last 5 years, the Witnesses have 
grown by more than 29 participants. By encouraging advocacy and 
community engagement, Witnesses to Hunger has empowered mothers in 
cities across the country by uniting their voices. Living it each day, 
these remarkable mothers understand the trials of hunger and raising a 
family more than anyone else. These powerful photographs serve to start 
a dialogue and bring much needed attention to the issues that impact 
their lives daily.
  Photography is an opportunity for these women to share their lives 
with others. I had the privilege of bringing the Witnesses to Hunger's 
exhibit to Capitol Hill in Washington DC, the State Capital in 
Harrisburg, PA and to several other cities within the Commonwealth. I 
am humbled to have played a small part in sharing the stories of their 
lives. These women have begun a movement that has inspired countless 
others and will inspire many more yet to come. They inspire me and 
challenge me to do more in the Senate. I am incredibly grateful for the 
guidance they provide. We need more projects like Witnesses to Hunger 
to continue to raise awareness of the struggles that everyday mothers 
go through to raise a family in communities across the country.

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