SPONSOR:	Rep. Osienski on behalf of all Representatives; Sen. Townsend, on behalf of all Senators

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34

COMMENDING THE FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has successfully developed and implemented programming for more than a quarter of all Delawareans; and

WHEREAS, in the last year, the Food Bank of Delaware has distributed approximately 6.2 million pounds of food through its 550 partner networks in the Hunger-Relief Partnership Program; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware served more than 4,000 households through its new mobile pantry vehicle; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware distributed 129,369 backpacks stocked with food to at-risk youth through its Backpack Program; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware produced 221,928 meals for its After-School Nutrition Program; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware produced and delivered more than 192,000meals for children at risk of hunger during the summer months through its Summer Food Service Program; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware provided supplemental food boxes to an estimated 2,300 senior citizens per month through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware had 15,691 volunteer visits for a total of 41,455 donated hours, which is the equivalent of 19 full-time staff members; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware currently employs 52 full-time and part-time employees at the Newark and Milford facilities; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has played a significant role in improving the access to and the efficiency of the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has constructed an expanded facility in Milford to increase vital services to residents of Kent and Sussex counties, including a Culinary School, a Training Kitchen, and a volunteer room; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has successfully graduated over 400 Culinary School students through its 44 graduating classes since the program began in 2002; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware will continue to provide nutritious foods to Delawareans in need and facilitate long-term solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty through community education and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank ofDelaware continues to leverage additional resources through strategic partnerships including the further development of the Coalition to End Hunger, engaging clients as advocates and increasing donations of food items from both grocers and farmers through the Food Sourcing Program and Produce Access Program.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 148th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Food Bank of Delaware is hereby commended for its continued dedication to the health and nourishment of the citizens of Delaware, and is supported in its endeavors to further expand its services throughout the State.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this House Concurrent Resolution be presented to representatives of the Food Bank of Delaware upon its enactment by the General Assembly.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution commends the Food Bank of Delaware for its contributions towards ending hunger and resolving the root causes of poverty in the State of Delaware through its increased statewide impact.