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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud members of Feeding Texas are gathering in |
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Austin to celebrate Texas Food Bank Day at the State Capitol on |
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February 9, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1986, the Feeding Texas network |
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consists of 21 food banks that work through more than 3,000 |
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community agencies to reduce hunger and improve health in all 254 |
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Texas counties; and |
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WHEREAS, To further these goals, the network has fostered |
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many public-private partnerships, including the Texans Feeding |
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Texans Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program, which helps |
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feed low-income families by offering incentives to growers to |
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donate fresh produce that would otherwise be left in the field; this |
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initiative offsets the costs of harvesting, packaging, and |
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transportation and has resulted in the distribution of over 150 |
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million pounds of surplus produce across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of Feeding Texas have also established the |
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"Feeding with Impact" partnership with the Texas Health and Human |
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Services Commission, which seeks to improve the diets of low-income |
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Texans by distributing fresh produce and offering nutrition |
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education and obesity prevention services; and |
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WHEREAS, Network members have partnered with the Texas Health |
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and Human Services Commission to provide client education and |
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application assistance for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance |
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Program, greatly increasing the efficiency of the |
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eligibility-determination process; Feeding Texas has also created |
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the Second Chance program, which allows prison inmates to gain |
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valuable work experience and certifications through volunteering |
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at food banks; and |
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WHEREAS, By facilitating the distribution of surplus food, |
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raising awareness about good dietary practices, and helping to |
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prevent obesity, Feeding Texas is reducing hunger and contributing |
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greatly to the health and well-being of the people of Texas; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 9, 2017, as Texas Food Bank |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the staff and volunteers of |
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Feeding Texas sincere best wishes for continued success in their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Feeding Texas as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |