S 2335

2026 -- S 2335
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 LC004097
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  STATE  OF     RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  SENATE RESOLUTION
  PROCLAIMING JANUARY 27, 2026 TO BE “RHODE ISLAND FOOD INSECURITY
  AWARENESS DAY” IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
  Introduced By: Senators Valverde, Mack, Zurier, Dimitri, Appollonio, Famiglietti, Euer,
  Urso, Bissaillon, and DiMario
  Date Introduced: January 27, 2026
  Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
1WHEREAS, In 2025, a record number of Rhode Islanders needed food assistance due to
2 high food prices, the steep rise in housing costs, and the end of COVID-19 relief programs; and
3WHEREAS, According to the 2026 annual Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island,
4 nearly one out of every five or 34% of Rhode Island households are unable to meet their basic
5 food needs; and
6WHEREAS, Communities of color are at the greatest risk of hunger, such that while 27%
7 of white households are food insecure, the rate is 50% among Black households, 58% among
8 Latino households, and 44% among all other households (including Asian, Native American, and
9 more than one race/ethnicity); and
10WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2025, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (“Food Bank”)
11 distributed 18.5 million pounds of food through its 147 member agencies across Rhode Island;
12 and
13WHEREAS, The Food Bank’s statewide network of 137 member agencies served an
14 average of 85,000 individuals per month in 2025 (January through September), an increase of 5%
15 from the previous year when an average 82,000 people were served monthly; and
16WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2026 the Food Bank will spend $7 million on food acquisition
17 to keep pace with the high demand for food assistance; and
18WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is committed to addressing the health and
19 wellbeing of its residents by continuing public awareness of increased food insecurity and
1 seeking ways to address this increased need; now, therefore be it
2RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims January 27,
3 2026, to be “Rhode Island Food Insecurity Awareness Day” in the State of Rhode Island; and be
4 it further
5RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
6 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, The
7 Honorable Daniel J. Mckee.
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