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Declaring Thursday October 16, 2014 as World Food Day in Philadelphia, and join the global community in a commitment to come together to eradicate hunger and recognize the service of the many volunteers and organizations who work to end hunger in Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, World Food Day was first observed 1979 and has been observed in celebration of the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on October 16, 1945 by millions of people throughout the world, for encouraging public awareness and community action against hunger; and
WHERAS, Across the world 805 million people, one in nine worldwide, live with chronic hunger; and
WHEREAS, Almost 5 million children under the age of five die from malnutrition and hunger- related causes every year; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the cost of human suffering, according to the United Nations, hunger leads to economic and productivity losses estimated at over $3.4 trillion annually; and
WHEREAS, In America, one of the richest nations of the world, the USDA (2013) estimates that one in seven people (14.3 percent) do not have enough food to eat; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, 1 in 4 people are at risk of hunger; in April 2014, 475,890 individuals or 31% of Philadelphians received SNAP assistance; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia demonstrates its solid commitment to hunger issues through innumerable hours of volunteer service, and many non-profit organizations and programs working to provide basic food and nutrition to Philadelphian's in need including, but not limited to: Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, MANNA, PhilAbundance, the SHARE Food Program, The Food Trust, Get Healthy Philly and over 700 food pantries and soup kitchens where people can receive food relief; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognize the vital community service of the many food relief programs in Philadelphia and declare Thursday, October 16, 2014, as "WORLD FOOD DAY" in Philadelphia.
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