Proclamation to Make Medford Hunger Free

Unanimously approved February 3, 2020

A Proclamation to Make Medford Hunger Free

Whereas hunger and poverty are issues of grave concern in the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the City of Medford;

Whereas Medford is committed to educating people about food insecurity and the importance of food banks in alleviating hunger in our communities;

Whereas food insecurity is a persistent and significant reality in Medford where one in ten people, one in eight children, and one in fourteen seniors do not know where their next meal will come from;

Whereas the Greater Boston Food Bank and its member agencies provide vital hunger relief services to our most vulnerable neighbors;

Whereas Medford shall work with hunger relief organizations to make Eastern Massachusetts Hunger Free by supporting access to three healthy meals a day for our residents in need; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the School Committee of Medford:

1. does hereby proclaim no later than January 1, 2028, Medford will be Hunger Free and urge all the residents of Medford to take note of this proclamation and participate fittingly in achieving this important goal; and

2. an advisory committee shall be created to provide specific recommendations for achieving this goal, with appointments for one year to include at least a teacher, school administrator, nursing representative, adjustment counselor, food services representative, and three School Committee Members. The advisory committee shall provide at least an interim status report within 6 months of their first meeting and provide a final report to the School Committee prior to the end of the one year term of this advisory committee.

Given at the City Hall in Medford, Massachusetts, this 3rd Day of February, in the year two thousand and twenty.