Declare Stamp Out Hunger Day

May 13, 2017, Stamp Out Hunger Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, One in eight Americans struggle with hunger today; and WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 36.2 million Americans live in food insecure households and approximately one in every three of these Americans is a child; and WHEREAS, A recent survey conducted by Feeding America of their food bank members reported a 30 percent increase in requests for emergency food assistance; in New York City, there has been a 20 percent increase in demand since June; and WHEREAS, On May 13, 2017, the National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct the largest food drive in the Nation to combat hunger, as letter carriers collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their postal routes; last year, a record 73.1 million pounds of food was collected; and WHEREAS, The largest one-day food drive in the Nation, the 25th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers National Food Drive to "Stamp Out Hunger" is held each year on the second Saturday in May in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and WHEREAS, Donations will be collected by more than 1,400 local branches of the 300,000-member postal union and delivered to food banks, pantries and shelters that serve the communities where they are collected; assisting in the effort are rural letter carriers and other postal employees, as well as members of other unions and thousands of civic volunteers; and WHEREAS, Along with the National Association of Letter Carriers, other co-sponsors of the drive are Feeding America, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, the nation's food bank network; the United Way of America and its local United Ways; and the AFL-CIO; and WHEREAS, As part of its support for the drive, the Campbell Soup Company will donate one million pounds of food to food banks across the country and is sponsoring a reminder postcard mailing sent to 120 million homes; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to urge the residents of this great Empire State to support this worthy endeavor by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where your letter carrier normally delivers your mail; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 13, 2017, Stamp Out Hunger Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, and the National Association of Letter Carriers.