Senate Resolution No. 2197

BY: Senator O'MARA

HONORING the Food Bank of the Southern Tier upon
the occasion of its designation as recipient of the
2017 Feeding America's Food Bank of the Year Award

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to recognize
that the quality and character of life in the communities across New
York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of
those organizations and individuals that are devoted to the welfare of
the community and its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
the Food Bank of the Southern Tier upon the occasion of its designation
as recipient of the 2017 Feeding America's Food Bank of the Year Award,
to be celebrated at a Press Event on Thursday, June 1, 2017, at its
Warehouse in Elmira, New York; and

WHEREAS, The Food Bank of the Year Award honors the most outstanding
food bank in the Feeding America network for going above and beyond its
core mission of providing for the hungry; it also acknowledges the role
the food bank plays in improving the community they serve through
creative, efficient and successful programming, and is a strengthening
force for the entire Feeding America network, as well as exemplifying
the highest standard of operations; and

WHEREAS, Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks
which leads the fight against hunger in the United States; it provides
food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and
meal programs in communities across our Nation; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Feeding America supports programs which
improve food security among the people they serve, educates the public
about the problem of hunger and advocates for legislation that protects
people from going hungry; and

WHEREAS, This year, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier is receiving
the 2017 Feeding America's Food Bank of the Year Award, the highest
recognition a food bank can receive; it will be the first food bank in
New York State to win this honor as well as the first small-market food
bank; and

WHEREAS, Serving the counties of Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben,
Tioga and Tompkins, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier covers nearly
4,000 square miles; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, the Food Bank distributed 11,553,304 pounds of
food and grocery items through three main channels: its approximately
160 partner agencies, including food pantries, meal programs, shelters,
after-school programs and senior programs; Food Bank direct-services
programs such as BackPack, Mobile Food Pantry, Just Say Yes to Fruits
and Vegetables and the Summer Food Kids Farmers Market; and a
partnership with CHOW in Broome County, an entity who receives food from
the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and relying on food and monetary

donations from local residents, organizations and companies to fulfill
its collective mission of ending hunger for all; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Food Bank of the Southern Tier upon the occasion of its
designation as recipient of the 2017 Feeding America's Food Bank of the
Year Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.