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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger (EPFH), El Paso's only |
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food bank, has implemented a number of strategies in order to |
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continue addressing food insecurity in the midst of the COVID-19 |
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pandemic; and |
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WHEREAS, EPFH is a member of Feeding America, the nation's |
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largest hunger relief network; the food bank is the distribution |
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center for more than 130 partner agencies and 235 mobile pantries |
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across the borderland region, as well as a collaborative hub for |
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SNAP and other support services; it currently provides meals to an |
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estimated 200,000 people who are facing hunger, including families, |
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children, single parents, seniors, and military veterans; and |
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WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 crisis, EPFH has been required |
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to adapt its methods of distributing food in order to keep its |
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volunteers, staff, and clients safe; the organization created a |
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task force that meets regularly to discuss health and safety |
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measures, while it works to keep pace with the demand for nutritious |
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food in its three-county service area; and |
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WHEREAS, To reduce person-to-person contact at its |
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distribution sites, EPFH began creating approximately 8,000 family |
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meal boxes each week, and it has also provided partner agencies with |
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the means of creating meal boxes of their own; EPFH has collaborated |
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with El Paso County and the City of El Paso to prepare and deliver |
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food boxes to residents of local senior centers, and it has also |
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supplied emergency food boxes to individuals in quarantine due to a |
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COVID-19 diagnosis; to further improve safety, EPFH has |
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transitioned to a drive-through model at its locations, and in |
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partnership with the City of El Paso, it has opened new sites to |
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expand access to clients in the northeastern and western areas of |
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the city; and |
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WHEREAS, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger has served as a critical |
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lifeline to countless area Texans who have found themselves in need |
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of assistance in these unprecedented times, and the tireless |
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dedication demonstrated by its compassionate volunteers and staff |
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is truly an inspiration; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend El Pasoans Fighting Hunger for its |
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continuing service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic |
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and extend to all those associated with the organization 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 El Pasoans Fighting Hunger as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |