TITLE: Recognizing February 2, 2011, as Texas Food Bank Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 2, 2011, as Texas Food Bank Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
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 2, 2011, as Texas Food Bank Day at the Capitol; and WHEREAS, Established in 1986, the Texas Food Bank Network consists of 19 food banks that provide service to all 254 Texas counties through approximately 3,600 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 68 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, 82nd 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. Seliger President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 2, 2011.