ORDER-2019-15 : A Resolution recognizing National Hunger Action Month

Transcript (~8 min @ 1:11:00)

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▶ 1:10:49 Speaker 11: welfare order 2019-14 appointment of kevin j erb 16 everett street to the historic district commission for a three-year term said term to end on the last day of february 2019. that order will

▶ 1:11:01 Michael P. Zwirko: be sent to the committee on health education and welfare we move now to new business order 2019-15

▶ 1:11:07 Speaker 11: a resolution recognizing national hunger action month alderman medeiros i'd like to move for

▶ 1:11:17 Michael P. Zwirko: immediate consideration of this order alderman medeiros moves for immediate consideration of order 2019-15 is there an objection seeing none you may proceed i'd like to uh move to suspend

▶ 1:11:25 Monica C. Medeiros: the rules to come to the podium to read the resolution and be joined by people from the

▶ 1:11:33 Peter D. Mortimer: board of the bread of life second the motion to suspend motion to made to suspend the rules by

▶ 1:11:36 Michael P. Zwirko: Alderman Medeiros. It has been seconded by Alderman Mortimer. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Rules are suspended. You may come up to the rostrum.

▶ 1:11:56 Monica C. Medeiros: Thank you. I filed this order. It's a resolution in recognition of National Hunger Action Month as we have done so in the past and this board has recognized nationally it's National Hunger Awareness Month in the month of September and this is a very important issue that affects all of us in Massachusetts, in the world, and right here in Melrose, there are many people that we are not always aware of who are hungry.

▶ 1:12:27 Monica C. Medeiros: So as, if you'll bear with me, I'd like to read the resolution. So it's a resolution in recognition of National Hunger Action Month. Whereas September is Hunger Action Month, when Feeding America nationwide network of food banks unite to urge businesses and individuals to take action in their communities, whereas chronic malnutrition weakens the immune system and can lead to stunted growth, poor cognitive ability, fetal defects, mental retardation, and even death, and whereas approximately 3.1 million children die from undernutrition each year, and whereas a recent study shows that 34 percent of those at risk for hunger in eastern Massachusetts earn too much to qualify for government-provided emergency food assistance. And whereas the Greater Boston Food Bank serves residents of 190 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts distributing enough food to help over 142,000 people monthly. And whereas locally, the Bread of Life is in the top 10 percent of the member agencies of the greater boston food bank distributing over 1.5 million pounds of food and whereas the bread of life provides over 1 million free meals through its food pantries evening meals and food delivery services to residents of communities north of boston including melrose therefore be it resolved that we the members of the board of aldermen hereby proclaim the month of september 2018 as hunger action month within the city of melrose and urge every citizen to be sensitive to the problem of hunger and attentive to how he or she may help provide assistance to those lacking in food within the city of melrose the commonwealth of massachusetts and throughout the world be it further resolved that on this 17th day of september in the year 2018 a copy of this resolution be spread upon the records of the board of aldermen signed by members of the board of all and i have with me tonight

▶ 1:14:42 Monica C. Medeiros: andrew mcneely from former president of the bread of life that's an organization that does a lot of work for melrose i think he can say it best and they have a walk upcoming yeah and uh i'd like

▶ 1:14:56 Speaker 6: to have you say sure i just want to say thank you on behalf of the whole organization the board of aldermen and the leadership in melrose including mayor former mayor dolan as well certainly as monica has been a great resource for us have supported us over the years and we're just very very thankful as she referenced the impact and the problem as far as we're concerned based on what we can see is getting greater and not worse, unfortunately. The fact that we served over a million meals again last year is kind of interesting, right? We're helping a lot of people, but it's unfortunate because the goal for us would be that we're out of business, so to speak, right? We're not a corporation that's trying to grow, right? We're trying to retract. And so, but that's the reality of the situation. And I think Melrose, quietly, there are people in need in Melrose. Of some of the statistics that Monica referenced, over 200 individuals in Melrose have consistently taken advantage of our service. And that includes, unfortunately, children and families. I think many of you are aware of the fact that the Town Line Motel up on 99 is actually a state overflow shelter. And so that's one of the areas in the groups that we serve every week. So we've provided groceries to them for the last three years, and unfortunately those numbers have increased as well. And so in addition to that, we serve just north of 150 elderly people, residents in Melrose, with groceries on a consistent basis every month. And so, again, just thank you. Doing this shines a light on the problem. It kind of increases visibility for our organization, which is obviously very, very helpful. And as Monica mentioned, we do have a walk every October that takes place, at least it starts, at Pine Banks in Melrose. And it has been, frankly, a little bit of a struggle to get, to have Melrose participate to the degree that we hoped and wanted.

▶ 1:17:17 Speaker 6: I think part of it is there's a conflict with another worthy cause on that day, typically, or that week. domestic violence is it MAVE so I just wanted to also just create some awareness for that event it's a huge fundraiser for us it generates almost a third of our budget every year and so I guess it's a plug for that event as well

▶ 1:17:47 Speaker 8: spreadoflifemalden.org

▶ 1:17:48 Speaker 6: spreadoflifemalden.org is the website yeah

▶ 1:18:02 Speaker 6: phones now I know they can't. I know they can't.

▶ 1:18:11 Speaker 2: Nice job, Monica.

▶ 1:18:14 Speaker 9: Don't forget your resolution. I know.

▶ 1:18:20 Speaker 8: Motion to place on file.

▶ 1:18:22 Speaker 9: Second.

▶ 1:18:25 Michael P. Zwirko: Alderman Medeiros has moved to place order 2019-15 on file. It has been seconded by Alderman Mortimer. All those in favor to place the order on file? Aye. Any opposed? The order is placed on file. we move now to orders out of order there are none any orders from committee this evening alderman