WHEREAS, hunger and poverty are issues of vi tal concern in California, where 10.5% of Ca lifornians face food insecurity daily and one in every seven children does not know where their next meal will come from; and WHEREAS, everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families— yet over 267,000 individuals, including over 64,000 children, here in Orange County are food insecure; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa is committed to taking steps to combat hunger in every part of our community and to provide additional resources that those in the City of Costa Mesa need; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa is committed to working with Abound Food Care, Orange County Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank, collectively known as the Orange County Hunger Alliance, in educating people about the role and importance of food banks and food care in addressing hunger and raising awareness of the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger issues; and
WHEREAS, in the first half of 2023, Orange County Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank collectively recorded an average of 888,057 food distribution visits per month from our neighbors facing food insecurity; and WHEREAS, in the first half of 2023, Oran ge County Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank have collectively distributed 33,661,205 million pounds of food through its partner network of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers, schools, colleges, universities, and other community organizations; and WHEREAS, in the first half of 2023, Abound Food Care has recovered 307,430 pounds of food, reducing food waste and diverting that food to those who need it; and
WHEREAS, the month of September has been designated “Hunger Action Month” to bring attention to food insecurity in our communities and to enlist the public in the movement to end hunger by taking action – including volunteer shifts, social media shares, and donations – to ensure every community, and everybody in it, has the food they need to thrive; and WHEREAS, food banks and other organizations across the country, including the members of the Orange County Hunger Alliance (Abound Food Care, Orange County Food Bank, and Second Harvest Food Bank), will host numerous events throughout September to bring awareness and help end food insecurity in our local community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John B . Stephens, Mayor of th e City of C osta Mesa, do hereby recognize September 2023 as HUNGER ACTION MONTH. I call this observance to the attention of our residents.
Dated this 5th day of September 2023
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John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa