2023 -- H 5325
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
THANKING THE RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOO D BANK AND LOCAL FOO D
PANTRIES FOR THEIR HARD WORK ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN RHODE
ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Kennedy, Ajello, Tanzi, Alzate, Lima, and Stewart
Date Introduced: February 02, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is committed to diversity and 1
serving people from all backgrounds and corners of Rhode Island's communities. Its core values 2
include understanding and respecting all of Rhode Island's communities and working tirelessly to 3
ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to healthy food; and 4
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Community Food Bank, founded in 1982, has been 5
distributing millions of pounds of food to needy people through its network of member agencies 6
across the State. To meet the increasing demand, it solicits donations from the public, the food 7
industry, and purchases food at reduced cost from wholesalers; and 8
WHEREAS, Last year, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributed 15.1 million 9
pounds of food, including 2.5 million pounds of fresh produce. More than 54,000 people are 10
served monthly. Sixty-six percent of households that visit a food pantry include a minor child or a 11
senior citizen, with forty-five percent of those reporting that they are in poor or only fair health. 12
Sixty-nine percent of these households have children with an employed adult, yet eighty-nine 13
percent of them live below the poverty line; and 14
WHEREAS, During the pandemic, Rhode Island experienced its highest level of food 15
insecurity in two decades. According to a 2021 RI Life Index survey, an initiative of Blue Cross 16
& Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Brown University School of Public Health, 18.4 percent 17
of Rhode Island households were worried about food insecurity. The survey also reported steep 18
racial and ethnic disparities, with 34 percent of Black and Latino households reporting food 19
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insecurity compared to 14.2 percent of white households; now, therefore be it 1
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 2
thanks the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and local pantries for all of their hard work, 3
especially during the pandemic, to address food insecurity in Rhode Island; and be it further 4
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 5
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Edward O. Handy, III President of the 6
Rhode Island Community Food Bank. 7
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