2023 -- H 5325

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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 FOOD BANK AND LOCAL FOOD

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

serving people from all backgrounds and corners of Rhode Island's communities. Its core values

include understanding and respecting all of Rhode Island's communities and working tirelessly to

ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to healthy food; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Community Food Bank, founded in 1982, has been

distributing millions of pounds of food to needy people through its network of member agencies

across the State. To meet the increasing demand, it solicits donations from the public, the food

industry, and purchases food at reduced cost from wholesalers; and

     WHEREAS, Last year, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributed 15.1 million

pounds of food, including 2.5 million pounds of fresh produce. More than 54,000 people are

served monthly. Sixty-six percent of households that visit a food pantry include a minor child or a

senior citizen, with forty-five percent of those reporting that they are in poor or only fair health.

Sixty-nine percent of these households have children with an employed adult, yet eighty-nine

percent of them live below the poverty line; and

     WHEREAS, During the pandemic, Rhode Island experienced its highest level of food

insecurity in two decades. According to a 2021 RI Life Index survey, an initiative of Blue Cross

& Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Brown University School of Public Health, 18.4 percent

of Rhode Island households were worried about food insecurity. The survey also reported steep

racial and ethnic disparities, with 34 percent of Black and Latino households reporting food

insecurity compared to 14.2 percent of white households; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

thanks the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and local pantries for all of their hard work,

especially during the pandemic, to address food insecurity in Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Edward O. Handy, III President of the

Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

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