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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For six years, volunteers with the organization |
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Emily's Meals have set an inspiring example of compassion toward |
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people experiencing homelessness in the McAllen community; and |
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WHEREAS, The organization began in 2015, after six-year-old |
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Emily Aguirre saw a homeless man while running errands with her |
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father, Rick Aguirre; the caring young girl asked her father how the |
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man lived and where he was going to find food, and after reflecting |
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on his daughter's concerns, Mr. Aguirre decided to purchase a meal |
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for the man; this act of kindness proved to be the first of many for |
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the members of the Aguirre family, who committed themselves to the |
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goal of feeding one homeless person every day for the 40 days of |
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Lent; and |
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WHEREAS, That original goal led the Aguirres to launch |
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Emily's Meals in 2015; they began by preparing meals in their home |
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to deliver to homeless and hungry individuals, and as more |
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volunteers joined the cause, they have since been able to |
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distribute between 40 and 50 meals each day, for a total of more |
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than 10,000 meals annually; the organization also provides such |
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items as clothing, tents, bicycles, running shoes, bus tickets, and |
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toiletries, and they work to connect homeless people with local |
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agencies that can further help them; beyond simply feeding and |
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offering supplies, volunteers with Emily's Meals take the time to |
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learn the names, stories, needs, hopes, and fears of the people they |
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serve, encouraging empathy and understanding for a population that |
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can sometimes go overlooked; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2016, Emily's Meals became an official ministry |
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of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church; that same year, the |
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organization held the first of a series of picnics, where homeless |
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clients could receive meals, get a free haircut, shop for donated |
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clothing, and access needed services such as blood tests, health |
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checkups, and mental health evaluations; the organization also has |
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a shower truck and a small food pantry that is located on the |
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grounds of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program; and |
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WHEREAS, Emily's Meals has touched the lives of countless |
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individuals who might otherwise go without sustenance and support, |
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and the Aguirre family and the organization's volunteers are indeed |
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deserving of recognition for their generous efforts; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Emily Aguirre and the Aguirre family for |
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their dedicated work with Emily's Meals and extend to them sincere |
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best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Aguirre family as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |