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HONORING AUBREY ALVAREZ AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
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HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 6, 2021
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Aubrey Alvarez, the executive director of Eat Greater Des Moines, as Iowan of the Week. Since its founding in 2013, Aubrey and the Eat Greater Des Moines team have helped connect numerous nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community leaders to work to strengthen the food system in Des Moines.
Aubrey, who holds a degree in health and wellness management from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Public Administration degree from Drake University, has worked in various health and wellness positions throughout her professional career. Now, Aubrey works with the Eat Greater Des Moines team to make sure no food goes to waste. They emphasize the use of local foods and community gardens, and have a food rescue system to make sure restaurants and grocery stores don't throw away good food. Their work has also proved fruitful as they have supported 90 community, school, and faith based edible gardens.
One of the organization's biggest projects, Operation Fresh Produce Drop, started in April 2020 in response to the strains put on the food system due to unexpected closures and an increase in need for food. The Operation Fresh Produce Drop initiative began as a way to help move excess bulk products from wholesale distributors while also supporting organizations serving those affected by the pandemic. This evolved into distributing almost 90,000 food boxes through the USDA Farms to Families food box program. With a team of 3 full-time staff and no warehouse space or necessary equipment, Operation Fresh Produce Drop was only possible due to collaborations with local partners like Des Moines Public Schools and Forklifts of Des Moines.
Of the over 125 groups Eat Greater Des Moines worked with, 80 percent were not and are still not able to order or access food through the Feeding America food bank network or TEFAP, which makes the work Eat Greater Des Moines is doing to partner with trusted community members to get food to individuals and families even more important.
Aubrey is committed to not only making sure individuals and families in Des Moines don't go hungry, but that they also have access to fresh and healthy foods. It's impossible to tell how many people Aubrey's work has affected directly, but I do know that because of her families have and are still able to put delicious, fresh food on their tables. It is an honor to commemorate Aubrey and recognize her as the Iowan of the Week.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 141
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