[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13602]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S 
                            BACKPACK PROGRAM

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
recognition of the efforts of an Erie County-based food bank to combat 
childhood hunger across northwestern Pennsylvania, especially in 
several counties of Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District.
  In 2011, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania 
launched its backpack program, which enlists the help of volunteers to 
fill backpacks with enough meals and snacks to help feed children over 
the weekends of each school year.
  Over this past weekend, around 70 volunteers, including residents, 
teachers, and businessowners from Warren County gathered to supply 
backpacks to around 350 students in the Warren County School District. 
The backpacks are expected to last those second and third grade 
students through the end of the year.
  In Erie County, around 1,100 students benefit from the program in the 
Erie County School District with meals being distributed to children 
throughout its 15 elementary schools.
  Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that a program such as this is 
necessary, but I am proud that there are folks in the Pennsylvania 
Fifth Congressional District and the surrounding area who are willing 
to help step up to the plate for kids in need.

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