Laserfiche WebLink
COUNTY OF HAWAII <br />STATE OF HAWAII <br />RESOLUTION NO. 198 12 <br />A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE <br />IMMEDIATE FUNDING TO THE FOOD BASKET, INC., HAWAII ISLAND'S FOOD <br />BANK. <br />WHEREAS, The Food Basket, Inc. serving as Hawai`i Island's Food Bank, (hereinafter <br />"Food Basket ") is an island -wide non - profit food network that collects and distributes nutritious <br />food to low income families, the ill and disabled, senior citizens, children's programs and other <br />charitable non - profit organizations; and <br />WHEREAS, the Food Basket provides food to organizations regardless of religious <br />affiliation, gender or ethnicity; and <br />WHEREAS, the Food Basket collaborates with partnering organizations to assist in the <br />eradication of the root causes of hunger and educates the community concerning food insecurity <br />and potential solutions for this significant social problem; and <br />WHEREAS, the current economic downturn has caused a substantial increase in the <br />number of families and individuals seeking food assistance so that current statistics reflect that <br />one in five County residents are supported on a continuous basis by the Food Basket; and <br />WHEREAS, the Food Basket has determined that 26.6% of all children under the age of <br />18 residing in the County are food insecure, that is they do not know from where and when their <br />next meal is coming; and <br />WHEREAS, child hunger hampers a young person's ability to learn, and affects their <br />cognitive and behavioral development, and directly impacts their future economic status and <br />productivity as adults; and <br />WHEREAS, the current demand for food has caused an acute shortfall in food supplies <br />at the Food Basket's two warehouses; and <br />WHEREAS, all medical personnel and agencies attest that the lack of adequate and <br />nutritious food resources for families and individuals results in an increasing impact on already <br />strained medical facilities and services placing additional burdens on taxpayers; and <br />WHEREAS, the County has recently made considerable advances in initiating affordable <br />housing opportunities for many residents with significant resource investments, a similar effort <br />should also be made to address an even more basic necessity, that of nutritious food; and <br />