Mickey Weiss died in early 1996, but his legacy, From the Wholesaler to the Hungry, lives on. Mickey's life proves how one person can make a difference. What started with a few flats of raspberries and one man's humanitarian vision has expanded into a national network of community service.
Still, government must continue to take a leading role in ending hunger in America, not as a new program, but as a catalyst for action from all segments of the community and the Nation.
By pooling our resources, government, private business, individual volunteers, and the nonprofit sector can form food recovery partnerships to attack hunger at the grassroots.
All across this country, the shared experience of fighting hunger is already cementing strong bonds among individuals, organizations, and governments. As my friend, the late Congressman Bill Emerson stated so eloquently, "Hunger is an issue that, in its solution, should know no partisan or ideological bounds." It was my pleasure to work with Bill in the effort to alleviate hunger from our midst. Partisanship had no place in this endeavor; rather, a shared goal of eradicating the shadow of hunger helped us forge a stronger community and an enduring friendship.
Using some of the suggestions in this guide is an excellent way to strengthen this community feeling, and to build a future without hunger.
Large or small, there is a place in the food recovery community for each of us. I hope this guide will help you find your place.