SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 168
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
join the members of the Texas Food Bank Network and Texans across
the state in celebrating February 12, 2013, as Texas Food Bank
Day at the Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1986, the Texas Food Bank Network
consists of 21 food banks that provide service to all 254 Texas
counties through approximately 3,900 community agencies; and
WHEREAS, To further the goal of reducing hunger in our
state, many public-private partnerships have been created,
including the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program; this
innovative program seeks to facilitate the donation of surplus
food to feed low-income families across Texas; and
WHEREAS, The Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program
offers incentives to growers to donate fresh produce that would
otherwise be left in the field, by offsetting the costs of
harvesting, packaging, and transportation; this initiative has
resulted in more than 80 million pounds of surplus produce being
distributed across the state; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Food Bank Network has also created a
partnership with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice that
encourages the use of prison land to grow fresh produce for
distribution by food banks; the creation of the Second Chance
Partnership also allows inmates of the criminal justice system to
gain valuable work experience and certifications through
volunteer efforts at the food banks; and
WHEREAS, Network members have also established a
partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
to provide client education and application assistance for the
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, greatly increasing
the efficiency of the eligibility-determination process; and
WHEREAS, It is truly fitting that a day be set aside to
acknowledge the many contributions of food banks to the
well-being of our state; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
83rd Legislature, hereby commend the Texas Food Bank Network on
its exemplary efforts to ensure that all Texans have access to
nutritious food and extend to its members best wishes for a
memorable Texas Food Bank Day at the Capitol; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of this special day.
Duncan
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 12, 2013.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate