SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 163
	WHEREAS, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger (EPFH), El Paso's only
	food bank, has implemented a number of strategies in order to
	continue addressing food insecurity in the midst of the COVID-19
	pandemic; and
	WHEREAS, EPFH is a member of Feeding America, the nation's
	largest hunger relief network; the food bank is the distribution
	center for more than 130 partner agencies and 235 mobile pantries
	across the borderland region, as well as a collaborative hub for
	SNAP and other support services; it currently provides meals to
	an estimated 200,000 people who are facing hunger, including
	families, children, single parents, seniors, and military
	veterans; and
	WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 crisis, EPFH has been
	required to adapt its methods of distributing food in order to
	keep its volunteers, staff, and clients safe; the organization
	created a task force that meets regularly to discuss health and
	safety measures, while it works to keep pace with the demand for
	nutritious food in its three-county service area; and
	WHEREAS, To reduce person-to-person contact at its
	distribution sites, EPFH began creating approximately 8,000
	family meal boxes each week, and it has also provided partner
	agencies with the means of creating meal boxes of their own; EPFH
	has collaborated with El Paso County and the City of El Paso to
	prepare and deliver food boxes to residents of local senior
	centers, and it has also supplied emergency food boxes to
	individuals in quarantine due to a COVID-19 diagnosis; to further
	improve safety, EPFH has transitioned to a drive-through model at
	its locations, and in partnership with the City of El Paso, it has
	opened new sites to expand access to clients in the northeastern
	and western areas of the city; and
	WHEREAS, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger has served as a
	critical lifeline to countless area Texans who have found
	themselves in need of assistance in these unprecedented times,
	and the tireless dedication demonstrated by its compassionate
	volunteers and staff is truly an inspiration; now, therefore, be
	it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th
	Legislature, hereby commend El Pasoans Fighting Hunger for its
	continuing service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic
	and extend to all those associated with the organization sincere
	best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
	prepared for El Pasoans Fighting Hunger as an expression of high
	regard from the Texas Senate.
	Blanco
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on March 22, 2021.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate