PROCLAMATION

•	Tuesday, June 7, 2005 is the fourth annual National Hunger Awareness Day.
•	This day serves to raise awareness of the hidden, yet solvable problem of hunger in America and to engage citizens in the work of food banks and food-rescue organizations.
•	Hunger affects us all, prompting health problems and deteriorating productivity. Hunger in the United States has grown an estimated 50 percent since 1985.
•	The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that in 2003 11.2 percent or 12.6 million of all U.S. households were "food insecure" because of lack of resources. Of those, 3.9 million were classified as "hungry" under USDA's very conservative measure. The hungry are 39 percent male and 61 percent female.
•	Since 1999, food insecurity has increased by 2.1 million households, including 1.1 million households with children. During the 1960s, the number of children living in poverty in the United States was reduced almost 45 percent. However, from 1973-1992 this trend reversed, and the number in poverty increased by 47 percent and continues to grow. Children who are malnourished are at greater risk of failing at school; their cognitive and physical development can remain impaired for life.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John W. Morrison, Mayor of Ashland, hereby proclaim June 7, 2005 as

NATIONAL HUNGER AWARENESS DAY

and encourage Ashland residents to support non-profit and government organizations that address hunger and to learn more about these issues at www.hungerday.org.

Dated this 7th day of June, 2005

Barbara Christensen, City Recorder
John W. Morrison, Mayor

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