LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
upon the occasion of celebrating its 20th Anniversary on May 13, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those organizations and individuals who devote their energy, resources
and thoughtful care to improving the quality and character of life in
their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley upon the occasion of its 20th Anni-
versary to be celebrated at its Annual Reception on Thursday, May 13,
2010; and
WHEREAS, The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is dedicated to alleviat-
ing hunger, while preventing the waste of wholesome food; it is a branch
of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and a member of Amer-
ica's Second Harvest, the national food bank network; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished history, the Food Bank of the
Hudson Valley has continuously found new sources of support and creative
strategies to help 370 agencies in their daily fight to solve hunger in
the region; and
WHEREAS, The Regional Food Bank, based in Latham, New York, was
created by a group of food pantry coordinators and anti-hunger advocates
which began its operation in June of 1982; at that time, pantries, soup
kitchens, and shelters for the homeless were experiencing a tremendous
increase in the number of people requesting emergency food assistance;
and
WHEREAS, To serve agencies in the lower Hudson Valley, food was
initially transported from the Regional Food Bank and distributed off
the backs of trucks at a handful of member agency locations in the
Hudson Valley area; as the need for food and agency membership
increased, a physical presence was deemed necessary for greater effi-
ciency and food safety; and
WHEREAS, As a result, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley was founded
in 1990, in Newburgh, New York; this branch warehouse allowed increased
donations from food companies and improved service to member agencies in
the lower Hudson Valley area; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley outgrew its rent-
ed Newburgh location and moved to a larger, improved facility in Milton,
New York; member agency numbers continued to grow and the amount of food
distributed increased steadily; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, a 55,000 square foot warehouse in Cornwall-on-Hud-
son, New York, was donated to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley; this
location also houses the Food Bank's administrative offices; and
WHEREAS, Working in partnership with the food industry, the Food Bank
of the Hudson Valley collects large donations of unmarketable but still
edible food, and distributes it to charitable agencies feeding hungry
people in a six county region; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley provided more
than six million pounds of food to over 350 member agencies in Orange,
Ulster, Dutchess, Rockland, Sullivan, and Putnam counties; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, in conjunction
with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, serves over 930
member agencies in 23 counties from the Canadian border to the Westches-
ter border; and
WHEREAS, The success of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is in
direct correlation to the efforts of its volunteers and staff, whose
involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive

commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of
excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the Food Bank and the popu-
lation it serves; and
WHEREAS, Organizations of such singular distinction as the Food Bank
of the Hudson Valley provide a model for enhancing the quality of life
in the community and, as such, merit the grateful praise of the citizens
of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley upon the occasion of cele-
brating its 20th Anniversary on May 13, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.