Food Bank Resolution

Offered by Councilors MICHAEL ROSS and SAM YOON

CITY OF BOSTON

IN CITY COUNCIL

ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING HUNGER IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

WHEREAS,     The City of Boston is facing mounting hunger-related concerns due to a variety of factors that have led to an increase in food prices, including: tightening nationwide supplies in wheat, soybean, and other food staples due to the rising cost of oil and transportation, poor crop weather worldwide, and rising worldwide populations; evidence of a weakening economy combined with a foreclosure crisis; and shrinking of Government and private food stock inventories over the last number of years; and,

 WHEREAS,     The Greater Boston Food Bank has seen recent increases in the number of people requesting food from their member organizations in the 30% to 40% range across Eastern Massachusetts.  Statewide, the number of people receiving food assistance in the form of food stamps has increased 10%; and,

 WHEREAS,     Anecdotally, many food pantries in the city of Boston have reported both increases in the number and increases in the frequency of residents requesting food; one food pantry stated that previously, people would come every sixty days but now come every thirty; another pantry in Chinatown has keenly felt the effects of the rice shortages, and a pantry in the Theater District has seen increases on average of 20 people per month for the past few months; and,  

WHEREAS,     The City of Boston is currently active in attempting to provide for residents in need of food; the Emergency Shelter commission works in conjunction with the Greater Boston Food Bank and a multitude of food pantries to feed Boston residents; the 40^th Annual Walk for Hunger will take place in Boston on May 4^th, last year it raised enough money to fund 42 million meals; and,  

WHEREAS,     Food is one of our most basic human rights, however, and while any hunger is abhorrent, the rise in people needing food is particularly troublesome and the city has a responsibility to explore any and all avenues for relief; NOW,  

THEREFORE BE IT ORDERED,    

That the appropriate committee of the Boston City Council hold a hearing to examine the health and status of Boston area food pantries and determine what efforts are in place to inform citizens of their existence, and determine whether any pantries have experienced food shortages.  Representatives from the Emergency Shelter Commission, the Greater Boston Food Bank, members of the public and other interested parties shall be invited to attend.  

Filed on:          April 29, 2008