Food Finders 15th Anniversary Celebration

FOOD FINDERS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 29, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. LINDA T. SÁNCHEZ
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2004

Ms. LINDA T. SÁNCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly today to congratulate Food Finders, a Long Beach community non-profit that is dedicated to providing food for the impoverished and hungry people in our region.

Food Finders' specific mission is to offer an enhanced quality of life to those in need through a food rescue program. Volunteers collect and distribute food, along with other essential items, to missions, hospices, homeless shelters, treatment centers, senior centers and children's homes in both Los Angeles and Orange County, at no cost to the recipients. Food Finders provides approximately 42,000 meals a day through its services.

Food Finders is recognized in the City of Long Beach and throughout the region as a leading community-based organization. They are the link between donors, service agencies, and the people in need. Food Finders has inspired hundreds of merchants to donate food, which they then deliver free of charge to service agencies. This makes it possible for the agencies to run more effectively and therefore feed more people.

Food Finders is also a referral source for individuals, directing them to where they can receive help. Ninety-nine percent of food never comes through Food Finders' door. Volunteers pick up and deliver about 20,000 pounds of food to recipient agencies each day. The majority of Food Finders' efforts are spent on facilitating connections between donors and recipients. They operate 200 established delivery routes that are managed by 325 volunteers.

Food Finders was started in April of 1989 by Arlene Mercer, and was at one time operated out of her home. Food Finders has since grown from delivering 251,000 pounds of food in 1990 to delivering approximately 7,000,000 pounds of food in 2003. Throughout its existence, Food Finders has delivered over 30 million pounds of wholesome food. This is equal to approximately 35,000 meals per day, or over 11,000 people who receive three meals a day because of the dedication of Food Finders in improving their quality of life.

I look forward to working with Food Finders in the future for the betterment of our community.