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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 198 Draft 01 2010-2012COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 198 12 A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE FUNDING TO THE FOOD BASKET, INC., HAWAII ISLAND'S FOOD BANK. WHEREAS, The Food Basket, Inc. serving as Hawai`i Island's Food Bank, (hereinafter "Food Basket ") is an island -wide non - profit food network that collects and distributes nutritious food to low income families, the ill and disabled, senior citizens, children's programs and other charitable non - profit organizations; and WHEREAS, the Food Basket provides food to organizations regardless of religious affiliation, gender or ethnicity; and WHEREAS, the Food Basket collaborates with partnering organizations to assist in the eradication of the root causes of hunger and educates the community concerning food insecurity and potential solutions for this significant social problem; and WHEREAS, the current economic downturn has caused a substantial increase in the number of families and individuals seeking food assistance so that current statistics reflect that one in five County residents are supported on a continuous basis by the Food Basket; and WHEREAS, the Food Basket has determined that 26.6% of all children under the age of 18 residing in the County are food insecure, that is they do not know from where and when their next meal is coming; and WHEREAS, child hunger hampers a young person's ability to learn, and affects their cognitive and behavioral development, and directly impacts their future economic status and productivity as adults; and WHEREAS, the current demand for food has caused an acute shortfall in food supplies at the Food Basket's two warehouses; and WHEREAS, all medical personnel and agencies attest that the lack of adequate and nutritious food resources for families and individuals results in an increasing impact on already strained medical facilities and services placing additional burdens on taxpayers; and WHEREAS, the County has recently made considerable advances in initiating affordable housing opportunities for many residents with significant resource investments, a similar effort should also be made to address an even more basic necessity, that of nutritious food; and WHEREAS, a substantial contribution to the Food Basket, serving as Hawai`i Island's Food Bank, would permit this organization to significantly increase its food supplies and provide for a three -to -four month food inventory, a period in which it is anticipated that even more families and individuals will seek food assistance County -wide; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it strongly urges the Mayor to allocate not less than $500,000 from the 2011 -2012 operating budget immediately for The Food Basket, Inc., Hawai`i Island's Food Bank to address this dire need. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to the Honorable William P. Kenoi, Mayor, County of Hawai`i; the Director of Finance; and the Executive Director of The Food Basket, Inc., Hawai`i Island's Food Bank. Dated at , Hawai`i, this day of , 2012. INTRODUCED BY: COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai`i Hilo, Hawai`i I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai`i on ATTEST: COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER 2 ROLL CALL VOTE Reference: C- 499/FC- RESOLUTION NO. 198 12 AYES NOES ABS EX BLAS FORD HOFFMANN IKEDA ONISHI PILAGO SMART YAGONG YOSHIMOTO Reference: C- 499/FC- RESOLUTION NO. 198 12