Reps. Green, Adamini, Anderson, Bieda, Brown, Byrnes, Caswell, Caul, Cushingberry, Elsenheimer, Farhat, Farrah, Hopgood, Kooiman, Lipsey, Miller, Pearce, Phillips, Sak, Stakoe, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Wojno, Accavitti, Baxter, Booher, Gillard, Gonzales, Gosselin, Hansen, Hildenbrand, Marleau, Meyer, Polidori, Alma Smith, Taub, Vander Veen, Zelenko, Ball, Byrum, Clack, Condino, Gleason, Huizenga, Kolb, Leland, Mayes, McDowell, Mortimer, Nofs, Pastor, Rocca, Shaffer, Stahl, Murphy and Waters offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 102.

A resolution recognizing Michigan’s food banks for the invaluable service they provide to the residents of this state.

Whereas, One in seven people in the United States does not know where their next meal is coming from.  In Michigan, a million people are low income and may face a food shortage this year.  In 2004, Michigan’s food banks distributed 73 million pounds of groceries in all 83 counties of Michigan, valued at $110 million.  Thousands of Michigan residents volunteer their time to food banks, with volunteer labor valued at $7 million in 2004; and

            Whereas, Adequate food and nutrition is essential for health, learning, productivity, and family stability.  Hunger is not about calories; it is about securing an acceptable, healthy, safe food supply for a family and knowing it is there day after day.  Only 37% of the people who use food banks are using the food stamp program.  Cumbersome application processes, stigma, transportation, and confusion about eligibility often hinder participation in public programs.  People with food shortages are turning to the non-profit, charity network when they need help; and

Whereas, Hunger is about poverty.  It knows no boundaries.  Hunger is an emergency that strikes people in rural, suburban, and urban communities.  Forty percent of Michigan’s hungry live in rural and suburban areas.  Fifty percent of those who receive food from emergency food providers are seniors and children.   Many seniors struggle on a fixed income with medical expenses eating up much of their available cash; and

Whereas, Food banks and emergency food providers are serving more working poor families than ever.  Job losses, plant closings, and financial emergencies often cause families to choose between paying rent and buying food.  Of households using food banks, 40% have at least one person working; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That members of this legislative body recognize those organizations that make it their mission to feed the hungry in Michigan, and all those who volunteer their time to help accomplish this goal; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Food Bank Council of Michigan and Mel Trotter Ministries as evidence of our support for the invaluable service they provide to this state and its residents.