LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim May 9, 2009, 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 9, 2009, 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 17th 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 Ameri-
ca'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 resi-
dents 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 David A. Paterson to proclaim May 9, 2009, Stamp
Out Hunger Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed be trans-
mitted to The Honorable Governor David A. Paterson, Governor of the
State of New York, and the National Association of Letter Carriers.