NATIONAL HUNGER AWARENESS DAY
WHEREAS, food insecurity and hunger are
daily facts of life for millions of low-income Americans; and
WHEREAS,
millions of hungry children in the United States suffer serious effects of food
insecurity, including physical, mental, and social impairment; and
WHEREAS,
the problem of hunger and food insecurity can be found in rural, suburban, and
urban America, touching nearly every American community; and
WHEREAS,
although substantial progress has been made in reducing the incidence of hunger
and food insecurity in the United States, certain groups, notably the working
poor, the elderly, homeless people, children, migrant workers and Native
Americans remain vulnerable to hunger and the negative effects of food
deprivation; and
WHEREAS,
the people of the United States have a long tradition of providing food
assistance to hungry people through acts of private generosity and public
support programs; and
WHEREAS,
The United States Conference of Mayors Initiative on Hunger and Homelessness,
directed through the Conference’s Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness
supports child nutrition programs and food donation programs, and supports
providing essential nutrition support to millions of low-income people; and
WHEREAS,
there is a growing awareness of the important public and private partnership
role that community-based organizations, institutions of faith, and charities
provide in assisting the hungry and food insecure people; and
WHEREAS,
more than 50,000 local community based organizations rely on the support and
efforts of more than one million volunteers to provide food assistance and
services to millions of vulnerable people; and
WHEREAS,
a diverse group of organizations, including America's Second Harvest, The U.S.
Conference of Mayors, and other organizations have documented substantial
increases in requests for emergency food assistance over the past year; and
WHEREAS,
all Americans across the country can help participate in hunger relief efforts
in their communities through donating food, money, or through volunteerism and
by supporting public policies aimed at reducing hunger,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U. S. Conference of Mayors calls on
communities across the nation to observe the principles and recommendations of
“National Hunger Awareness Day”, June 3 of this year and every year forward
with such activities as volunteerism, support for local anti-hunger advocacy
efforts and hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue
organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters, and through
the year-round support of programs and public policies that reduce hunger and
food insecurity in all local communities across the country.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 