WHEREAS, hunger and poverty are issues of vital concern in Northeast Tennessee where an average of 13.8% of people struggle with hunger in our eight-county region and one in every six children do not know where their next meal will come from; and
WHEREAS, Washington County is committed to taking steps to combat hunger in every part of our community and to provide additional resources that those in the county need; and
WHEREAS, Washington County is committed to working with Second Harvest Foodbank of Northeast Tennessee, a member of the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks, in educating people about the role and importance of food banks in addressing hunger and raising awareness of the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger issues; and
WHEREAS, more than 45,000 individuals in Northeast Tennessee rely on food provided by the members of the Second Harvest Food Bank monthly; and
WHEREAS, the coronavirus pandemic has had devastating health and economic impacts across the country and it is estimated that there are approximately 71,000 people facing hunger in Northeast Tennessee in the wake of the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the members of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee distributed more than 12.8 million pounds of food, or 10.6 million meals in 2022 (FY2023) through its network of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other community organizations;
WHEREAS, the 15th of September has been designated “Hunger Action Day” in order to bring attention to food insecurity in our communities and to engage the public in action – including volunteer shifts, social media shares, and donations – to end hunger one helping at a time; and
WHEREAS, food banks across the country, including the members of Second Harvest Food Bank, will throughout September will promote on social media ways to bring awareness and help end hunger in their local community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, THAT:
We do hereby recognize September15, 2023 as HUNGER ACTION DAY in Washington County, Tennessee and call this observance to the attention of our citizens.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of Washington County, Tennessee to be affixed in Jonesborough on this 7th day of September, 2023.
Joe Grandy, County Mayor