Bill Text: DE SCR53 | 2023-2024 | 152nd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Commending The Food Bank Of Delaware For Its Contribution To The State Of Delaware.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-11 - Passed In House by Voice Vote [SCR53 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2023-SCR53-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Wilson on behalf of all Senators & Rep. Osienski on behalf of all Representatives |
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53
COMMENDING THE FOOD BANK OF DELAWARE FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
WHEREAS, on March 26, 1981, a committee incorporated the Food Conservers, Inc. and it operated out of a modest basement of the Northeast State Social Service Center in Wilmington, serving 50 member agencies; and
WHEREAS, in 1991 the name of the organization was changed to the Food Bank of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware is the largest hunger relief organization in the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has been on the front line of ensuring that thousands of Delawareans have access to the food resources they so vitally need; and
WHEREAS, according to Feeding America, currently there are 93,900 Delawareans experiencing food insecurity; and
WHEREAS, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, currently there are 118,800 Delaware residents, or 12% of the state population, receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and
WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022, the Food Bank of Delaware distributed 16,517,697 pounds of food throughout Delaware, served 70,687 households through its Mobile Pantry program, distributed 170,270 meal kits to at-risk youth through its Backpack program, and provided 18,410 supplemental food boxes through the Commodity Supplemental Food program and Palmer Home Foundation; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware began a home delivery program to better serve Delawareans by delivering much needed food assistance to their door and distributed 41,032 boxes through partnerships with Amazon and DoorDash; and
WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022, 15,541 individuals volunteered their time for a total of 46,234 donated hours, which is the equivalent of 22 full-time staff members; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for food assistance to unprecedented levels; and
WHEREAS, from March 16, 2020 through December 31, 2022, the Food Bank of Delaware responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by facilitating 91 mass drives through distribution events throughout the State of Delaware serving 81,935 households and distributing 47,115,329 pounds of food to the community; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware currently employs 95 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 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 two workforce development programs – The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware and L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing, and Inventory Control) – that successfully graduated 39 job ready students in fiscal year 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware has recently started a new workforce development program in partnership with the Delaware Restaurant Association – The Kitchen School – that offers specialized training to provide employment opportunities in the food and hospitality industries for adults with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware is proud to partner with the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to offer a Summer Culinary Exploration Program that provides training to young adults ages 16-21 with intellectual disabilities and graduated 12 students in fiscal year 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware’s 5-acre farm in Newark consists of a propagation house, three high tunnels, a demonstration garden, beehives, and field growing space producing vegetables throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022 more than 16,777 pounds of produce were harvested on that farm which were sold at the on-site farm stand and distributed through the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership program and through the on-site Healthy Pantry Center; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware will continue to inspire hope in our communities by providing food to nourish Delawareans, while collaborating on long-term solutions to hunger and poverty; and
WHEREAS, the Food Bank of Delaware is currently constructing a new 67,000-square-foot facility in Milford that will ensure appropriate food resources are available downstate, while increasing capacity throughout the State.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Food Bank of Delaware is hereby honored for its continued dedication to the health and nourishment of the citizens of Delaware, as well as its endeavors to further expand resources available 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.
SYNOPSIS
This Senate Concurrent Resolution commends the Food Bank of Delaware for its contributions towards ending hunger and addressing the root causes or poverty in the State of Delaware through its increased statewide impact.
Author: Senator Wilson
