SENATE RESOLUTION 8

(By Senators Jeffries, Deeds, Caputo, Woelfel, and Hamilton)

[Introduced January 22, 2024]

Designating January 23, 2024, as Hunger Free West Virginia Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, The West Virginia Senate recognizes food and the necessary nutrition for a vital and healthy community is a struggle for many people in our state, with one to nine West Virginians not knowing where their next meal will come from; and

Whereas, The Facing Hunger Food Bank and the Mountaineer Food Bank, two of West Virginia's food distributors, along with their combined network of over 600 partners, continue to help nourish over 208,720 individuals in need; and

Whereas, Hunger impacts hard-working West Virginia families, seniors, veterans, and our youngest West Virginians, our children; and

Whereas, Children are at a higher risk of hunger, with one in seven children not having enough to eat.  Food insecurity negatively impacts children in their health, their growth, and ability to learn when they are forced to constantly look for food; and

Whereas, Over 13,000 of our West Virginia veterans struggle with hunger daily; and

Whereas, Nearly one in ten senior citizens facing hunger are on disability and social security with limited means of income, have to decide between buying nutritious foods or paying bills, or getting their medical prescriptions; and

Whereas, Food insecurity affects all walks of life, including many hard-working and underemployed families who have difficult decisions to make every day and count on foodbanks to secure nutritious and healthy food these infrastructures provide; and

Whereas, That the food banks, as businesses, employ over 125 employees, engage  countless volunteers,  and partner with donors and businesses to provide substantial economic development in the communities we serve, and those who work in service to our great state; and

Whereas, The Facing Hunger Food Bank and the Mountaineer Food Bank, provided over 35 million pounds of food representing 29,167,000 meals to our neighbors in need; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates January 23, 2024, as Hunger Free West Virginia Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Cynthia Kirkhart, CEO, Facing Hunger Food Bank.