Bill Text: VA HJR521 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-09 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ521ER) [HJR521 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HJR521-Introduced.html
Patrons-- Lopez, Hope, Levine and Sullivan; Senators: Ebbin, Favola and Howell
WHEREAS, for 30 years, the Arlington Food Assistance Center has worked diligently to address food insecurity and alleviate hunger in Arlington County; and
WHEREAS, founded in 1988, the Arlington Food Assistance Center began when a small group of concerned citizens pooled their resources to establish an organization to alleviate hunger; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Food Assistance Center initially served 59 families from the basement of Clarendon Baptist church and was soon joined by other local congregations, all of whom operated food pantries serving small groups of families; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Food Assistance Center has grown to become the largest food bank in Arlington County, serving 2,376 families every week from 18 sites, and it is the only organization solely dedicated to alleviating hunger in Arlington County, where more than 31,500 people identify as food insecure; and
WHEREAS, the Arlington Food Assistance Center fulfills its mission with the help of more than 2,000 generous volunteers, providing more than 40,000 hours of service; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Arlington Food Assistance Center helped lower the incidence of hunger in the community by distributing more than 4.6 million pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit, meat, eggs, milk, bread, rice, beans, cereal, oatmeal, and other groceries; and
WHEREAS, by providing nutritious, supplemental groceries at no cost to families, the Arlington Food Assistance Center has helped vulnerable families devote their financial resources to housing, utilities, or other basic needs; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Arlington Food Assistance Center on the occasion of its 30th anniversary in 2018; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Arlington Food Assistance Center as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's commitment to helping those in need and alleviating hunger.
