Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Bonini & Sen. Townsend on behalf of all Senators & Rep. Osienski on behalf of all Representatives

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 57

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 114,000 Delawareans; and

WHEREAS, in the last fiscal year, the Food Bank of Delaware:

Distributed approximately 7.737 million pounds of food through its network of 536 Hunger Relief Program Partners;

Served 6,073 households through its mobile pantry vehicle;

Distributed 155,681 backpacks stocked with food to at-risk youth through its Backpack Program;

Produced 211,969 meals for its After-School Nutrition Program;

Produced and delivered 44,530 meals for children at risk of hunger during the summer months through its privately funded summer Grab & Go Program;

Provided 27,859 supplemental food boxes to an estimated 2,300 senior citizens per month through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and Palmer Home Foundation;

Had 16,348 volunteer visits for a total of 40,007 donated hours, which is the equivalent of 19 full-time staff members; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware currently employs 61 full-time and part-time employees at its 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 purchased a new facility at 222 Lake Drive, Newark, DE to improve operational efficiency, increase workforce development opportunities for Delawareans, and provide more nutritious foods to those in need; and

WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has successfully graduated close to 600 Culinary School students through its 69 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 of Delaware 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 Senate of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives 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 Senate Concurrent Resolution be presented to representatives of the Food Bank of Delaware upon its enactment by the General Assembly.