SR0415 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0415 LRB103 33307 MST 63117 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to recognize the Midwest Food Bank on 20 years of working to alleviate hunger; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, ten Bloomington-Normal nonprofit agencies issued a request for donations from the community; with a deep commitment to their faith and a firm belief in helping if one has the resources to do so, Robert, David, and Paul Kieser decided to take action and turned a shed on their family farm into a distribution site for local food pantries, with the first donations involving cars and vans lining up for donations from the shed; and

WHEREAS, The Kieser family realized the need was much bigger; they began researching ways to access larger loads of donated food and learning how to operate a food bank; and

WHEREAS, Due to the generosity of donors and volunteers, the Midwest Food Bank now offers service worldwide and is positioned for growth, seeking new partnerships and expanding its programs in the continuing fight against food insecurity; and

WHEREAS, The Midwest Food Bank currently distributes nearly $34 million worth of food to over 2,200 non-profit organizations each month from 12 locations in Illinois, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, New England, East Africa, and Haiti; and

WHEREAS, In 2022, more than 30,000 volunteers offered in excess of 350,000 hours of service, the equivalent of over 175 full-time employees; the work of these dedicated volunteers allows the Midwest Food Bank to operate efficiently while keeping administrative costs low; volunteers are fundamental to the organization's success and also gain the unique perspective that worldwide hunger is prevalent and that their efforts can make a difference; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the Midwest Food Bank on 20 years of working to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and providing disaster relief without discrimination; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Midwest Food Bank as a symbol of our respect and esteem.