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CALIFORNIN
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
SEPTEMBER AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH
WHEREAS, hunger and poverty are issues of vital concern in California, where approximately 22% of California households and 27% of households with children experience food insecurity; and WHEREAS, everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, and people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families—yet over 387,000 individuals, including over 112,000 children- that's 1 in 6 children, here in Orange County are food insecure; and WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Beach is committed to taking steps to combat hunger in every part of our community and to provide additional resources that those in Laguna Beach need; and WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Beach is committed to working with the OC Hunger Alliance in educating people about the role and importance of food banks and the charitable food system in addressing hunger, raising awareness of the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger issues, and working collaboratively to optimize the food system and address food insecurity as a symptom of poverty; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, Orange County Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank collectively recorded an average of 808,473 individual food distribution visits per month from our community members facing food insecurity and distributed 72,837,548 pounds of food through their partner networks of food pantries at senior centers, schools, colleges, universities, houses of worship, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community organizations; and WHEREAS, Abound Food Care helps to facilitate the recovery of over 25 million pounds of excess edible food in Orange county each year, reducing food waste and providing that food to those who need it; and
WHEREAS, 2-1-1 Orange County received 15,563 calls from Orange County residents seeking food assistance and were connected by 37,962 referrals to food pantries in the past year; and WHEREAS, Meals on Wheels Orange County prepared and delivered 1,272,026 meals in 2025, providing older adults and vulnerable neighbors with vital nutrition, compassionate support, and services promoting health, independence, and dignity; and WHEREAS, the month of September has been designated "Hunger Action Month" in order to bring attention to food insecurity in our communities and to enlist the public in the movement to end hunger by taking action - including volunteering, donating, and advocating - 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 OC Hunger Alliance, will host events throughout the month of September to bring awareness and help end food insecurity in our local community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark Orgill, as Mayor of the City of Laguna Beach, am proud to recognize September 2026 as Hunger Action Month, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.
DATED: September 22, 2026
Mark Orgill, Mayor