RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, no resident of the City of Chicago should have to wonder where the next meal will come from or question the quality of that meal; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2013 No Kid Hungry report, 21% of children in Illinois are unsure of when and where they will receive their next meal; and
WHEREAS, the Greater Chicago Food Depository recently partnered with Downtown Partners Chicago to create an ad campaign to focus on the newest program to prevent hunger - Rise and Shine Illinois; and
WHEREAS, launched in the fall of 2014, Rise and Shine provides free breakfast to young children who would otherwise miss the most important meal of the day; and
WHEREAS, in the associated website for the program, Downtown Partners Chicago has highlighted that it is difficult for children to focus on learning when they are hungry; and
WHEREAS, while free breakfast is provided for all public schools through the National School Breakfast program, the student must ask to receive it; and
WHEREAS, the Food Research and Action Center found that, in 2013, 449,000 Illinois students who were eligible for a free or reduced breakfast did not receive them; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2014 Feeding America study, students who regularly eat breakfast score 17% higher on standardized math tests; and
WHEREAS, the ultimate goal for this program is to provide breakfast for approximately 38,000 students by the end ofthe 2015-2016 school year; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council commend Greater Chicago Food Depository for their hard work and dedication to eradicating hunger among children in Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
ircTM. Burke, Alderman, 14m Ward