87R16612 CJM-D
 
  By: Ordaz Perez H.R. No. 765
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger (EPFH), El Paso's only
  food bank, has implemented a number of strategies in order to
  continue addressing food insecurity in the midst of the COVID-19
  pandemic; and
         WHEREAS, EPFH is a member of Feeding America, the nation's
  largest hunger relief network; the food bank is the distribution
  center for more than 130 partner agencies and 235 mobile pantries
  across the borderland region, as well as a collaborative hub for
  SNAP and other support services; it currently provides meals to an
  estimated 200,000 people who are facing hunger, including families,
  children, single parents, seniors, and military veterans; and
         WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 crisis, EPFH has been required
  to adapt its methods of distributing food in order to keep its
  volunteers, staff, and clients safe; the organization created a
  task force that meets regularly to discuss health and safety
  measures, while it works to keep pace with the demand for nutritious
  food in its three-county service area; and
         WHEREAS, To reduce person-to-person contact at its
  distribution sites, EPFH began creating approximately 8,000 family
  meal boxes each week, and it has also provided partner agencies with
  the means of creating meal boxes of their own; EPFH has collaborated
  with El Paso County and the City of El Paso to prepare and deliver
  food boxes to residents of local senior centers, and it has also
  supplied emergency food boxes to individuals in quarantine due to a
  COVID-19 diagnosis; to further improve safety, EPFH has
  transitioned to a drive-through model at its locations, and in
  partnership with the City of El Paso, it has opened new sites to
  expand access to clients in the northeastern and western areas of
  the city; and
         WHEREAS, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger has served as a critical
  lifeline to countless area Texans who have found themselves in need
  of assistance in these unprecedented times, and the tireless
  dedication demonstrated by its compassionate volunteers and staff
  is truly an inspiration; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby commend El Pasoans Fighting Hunger for its
  continuing service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic
  and extend to all those associated with the organization sincere
  best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for El Pasoans Fighting Hunger as an expression of high
  regard by the Texas House of Representatives.