TO CONGRATULATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION FOR ITS WORK TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE OF HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO RECOGNIZE "HUNGER AWARENESS AND ACTION MONTH".

Whereas, the month of September has been designated as "Hunger Awareness and Action Month" in order to provide a unified opportunity for communities in the United States to focus attention on the persistent problem of domestic hunger and to mobilize to create a movement to help end hunger in America; and

Whereas, in 2013, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, 14.3 percent of households in the United States, including approximately 14.1 percent of South Carolina households, were food insecure; and

Whereas, according to a study published by Feeding America, in 2013, 814,560 South Carolinians did not always know where they would find their next meal; and

Whereas, hunger is a reality for 17.1 percent of the population in South Carolina, or nearly one in five South Carolinians; and

Whereas, many households in the United States experience hunger, and some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day; and

Whereas, research shows that preschool and school-age children who experience severe hunger have higher levels of chronic illness, anxiety and depression, and behavioral problems than children receiving a well-balanced diet; and

Whereas, food insecure seniors have lower nutrient intakes than food secure seniors, and without proper nutrients, seniors are at increased risk of disability, deteriorated health conditions, decreased resistance to infections, lengthened hospital stays, deteriorated mental health, and being underweight; and

Whereas, the costs of other essentials, such as home heating, gasoline, housing, and medical care, have increased significantly, and for families caught in the squeeze between declining wages and rising costs, the food budget becomes a frequent pressure point; and

Whereas, utilization of emergency food assistance becomes a way for these individuals and families to keep food on the table while still paying the bills; and

Whereas, in 2013, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, 5.1 percent of all U.S. households accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times; and

Whereas, individuals, charities, businesses, and government all have a role to play in getting food to those in need; and

Whereas, food banks (including those who are members of the South Carolina Food Bank Association), soup kitchens, food pantries, faith-based organizations, businesses, and individuals are donating time, raising funds and giving food to help their neighbors; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Food Bank Association, as members of Feeding America, provides guidance, support and vital food resources to over 1,700 agencies and for every dollar of support, providing an average of five meals, plus each house of volunteer support saving taxpayers $25.00, working to close the ongoing need for services by leveraging local community partnerships; and

Whereas, the four member agencies of the South Carolina Food Bank Association provided 15,160,333 meals in the most recently completed fiscal year; and

Whereas, individuals benefiting from the availability of donated food range from infants and toddlers, school-age children and adolescents to single mothers, single fathers, two-parent families, veterans and their families, and seniors. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, congratulate the South Carolina Food Bank Association for its work to bring awareness to the issue of hunger in the United States and to recognize "Hunger Awareness and Action Month".