Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/508

 100 STAT. 472

PUBLIC LAW 99-317—MAY 23, 1986

Public Law 99-317 99th Congress Joint Resolution May 23, 1986 [H.J. Res. 234]

Designating the week of May 18, 1986, through May 24, 1986, as "National Food Bank Week".

Whereas substantial evidence indicates that poverty in the United States has risen in recent years, with the Census Bureau reporting that 35,500,000 people currently live below the poverty line, the greatest such number in over 15 years; Whereas the correlation between poverty and hunger has been demonstrated in national, State, and local studies; Whereas an estimated 20,000,000 people in the United States periodically go hungry; Whereas non-profit food banks all over the United States are witnessing an increasing demand for food from families, children, the elderly, unemployed workers, and the homeless; Whereas, despite such increasing demand, food banks are meeting the challenge of collecting surplus food which would otherwise be wasted and distributing it to food kitchens, day care centers, homes for the elderly, halfway houses, church-operated meal programs, and needy families; Whereas Second Harvest has become the nationally recognized leader and pioneer of food banking, has forged a successful working relationship with the Nation's food and transportation industries, and has obtained voluntary private sector response to the needs of the Nation's hungry; Whereas Second Harvest succeeded in working with over 250 national companies to distribute over 100,000,000 pounds of food products through its member food banks during 1985; Whereas from May 18, 1986, through May 22, 1986, Second Harvest is holding its national conference to bring together its member food banks, affiliated food banks, and food industry representatives to focus attention on the growing food needs of people in the United States; and Whereas Second Harvest, its members, and other food banks all over the United States deserve commendation for their work with private sector and non-profit organizations to help feed the Nation's hungry: Now, therefore, be it

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