SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 163
         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 Senate of the State of Texas, 87th
  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 from the Texas Senate.
 
  Blanco
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on March 22, 2021.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate