Canned
In the following joint note from Speaker Black and Senate leader Basnight, they encourage folks to take part in a first day of session food drive:
Dear Friends:Continuing what has become a tradition of giving and goodwill, the General Assembly will hold its 2006 Legislative Food Drive on Tuesday May 9, as part of the convening of the short session. The General Assembly began this tradition in 1995 and donations have increased steadily ever since – and with your help the 2006 food drive can far exceed our past successes.
Everyone who attends the opening day ceremonies – including legislators and their guests, Council of State members, legislative staff, lobbyists and reporters – is asked to donate nonperishable items or money to support America’s Second Harvest Food Banks of North Carolina. Think of your contribution as a small “opening day admission price” that will benefit thousands of North Carolina residents. For the first time this year, we have even encouraged local Wake County high schools to compete in food drives on their own campuses to foster further civic engagement. This year’s session convenes at noon Tuesday, but volunteers from the Second Harvest Food Banks will be accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the front entrance of the Legislative Building and the third-floor entrance of the Legislative Office Building. Those interested in making a financial contribution online may use the following link and the legislative food drive will be credited: http://www.foodbankcenc.org/virtual_drive/NCGA.asp.Attached is a list of the items requested most frequently by Food Bank member agencies as well as a flyer we would like you to hang outside your legislative office.
To continue its commitment to fighting hunger in this state, the Food Banks depend on donations of food, money and volunteer time. This is an opportunity for all of us to give back to our communities and to raise awareness of the serious problem of hunger across North Carolina.
Please help the General Assembly start the New Year and the 2006 session with a true act of goodwill by contributing money, canned goods or other nonperishable items to the Second Harvest Food Banks of North Carolina on Tuesday, May 9th.
Thank you in advance for participating in this worthy cause and my very best wishes to you as we enjoy the spring season.
James B. Black
Speaker of the House
Marc Basnight
President Pro Tempore