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
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 22, 2021.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate