Whereas, Food insecurity and hunger are a fact of life for over a million people in Michigan and can produce physical, mental and social impairments; and,

Whereas, Recent data published by the Department of Agriculture show that people in almost 500,000 households in rural, suburban and urban portions of our state are experiencing hunger or food insecurity; and,

Whereas, Although substantial progress has been made in reducing the incidences of hunger and food insecurity in Michigan, certain populations remain vulnerable to hunger and the negative effects of food deprivation, including the working poor, the elderly, children, homeless individuals, immigrant workers and Native Americans; and,

Whereas, The people of Michigan have a long tradition of providing food assistance to hungry people through acts of private generosity and public support programs; and,

Whereas, Michigan provides essential nutritional support to millions of low-income people through the administration of numerous federal and state food assistance programs, including, the federal food stamp program, the National School Lunch Program, the Summer Food Service Program, Michigan's food bank network, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program; and,

Whereas, There is a growing awareness of the important partnership role that community-based organizations, institutions of faith and charities provide in assisting hungry and food-insecure people; and,

Whereas, Local community-based organizations rely on the support and efforts of volunteers to provide food assistance and services to vulnerable citizens; and,

Whereas, A diverse group of organizations have documented substantial increases in requests for emergency food assistance during the last year; and,

Whereas, All citizens of Michigan can help participate in hunger relief efforts in their communities by donating food and money, volunteering their time, and supporting public policies and efforts aimed at reducing hunger; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 5, 2007, Hunger Awareness Day.