DOVER – State of Delaware offices are closed today (Friday, January 3) during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Non-essential employees are not to report to work for this period. Essential employees are to report as scheduled.

(Newark, DE) – As a guest host for the Governor’s weekly message, filmed at the Food Bank of Delaware, Department of
Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf highlights a winter-long anti-hunger campaign underway in Delaware.

“In my agency, the Department of Health and Social Services, we serve 156,000 Delawareans who receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits,” said Secretary Landgraf. “In November, cuts by Congress reduced our SNAP budget by $16 million. Working with partners like the Food Bank, we are determined to close that gap and make sure that no one goes hungry.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/ZCz6TNbK5WQ
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Sharing A Second Helping with Those in Need

As we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new year, our thoughts often turn to individuals in our state who are struggling. I do not take for granted that I have a warm bed to sleep in and a pantry full of food. But I know there are Delawareans who are not as fortunate, and must often decide on living without heat, living without food, or both. That’s why we are joining with Delaware 2-1-1, the Coalition to End Hunger and the Food Bank of Delaware on a campaign called Share a Second Helping. During January and February, we will have barrels out across our state to accept your generous food donations. At my office in New Castle, we have a permanent barrel, and I am grateful that it continues to be filled. The campaign goal is simple: Collect 100,000 pounds of food to meet the immediate needs of Delawareans who are hungry.

In my agency, the Department of Health and Social Services, we serve 156,000 Delawareans who receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits. In November, cuts by Congress reduced our SNAP budget by $16 million. Working with partners like the Food Bank, we are determined to close that gap and make sure that no one goes hungry. That’s why we are asking for your support. In addition to meeting the immediate need, DHSS will continue to reach out to individuals about the resources available to them. Most importantly, working with advocates, and the state and federal governments, we must find long-term solutions to the problem of hunger. From all of us at DHSS and on behalf of Governor Markell, we wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year. And in 2014 and beyond, you have our commitment that we will work to reduce hunger in our state as we keep Delaware moving forward.

Dover –  As 2013 comes to a close, the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is reminding motorists to celebrate the holidays responsibly and designate a sober driver because ‘Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving’.

There are two DUI checkpoints scheduled as follows:

• Friday December 27th   Newark ( DSP & New Castle County DUI Task Force)- checkpoint

• Tuesday December 31^st    Newark (New Castle County DUI Task Force)- checkpoint

The Safe Family Holiday DUI Victim tree received 1 more red bulb this week. There is now a total of 9 green bulbs and 2 red bulb on each DUI Victim tree.  Each green bulb represents an alcohol related injury and a red bulb represents an alcohol related fatality on Delaware roadways between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.  Last year, 3 people were killed and 54 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Delaware during the holiday season.

Since January 1^st of this year, 96 people have lost their lives on Delaware roadways in 92 fatal traffic crashes, compared to 106 people killed in 101 fatal traffic crashes this time last year.  Aggressive driving behaviors, including speeding, running stop signs, and not granting right of way, have contributed to 34% of the fatal traffic crashes so far this year. To date alcohol consumption has been involved in 35% of the traffic deaths, and 47% of vehicle occupant fatalities were individuals not wearing their seat belts.

For more information on these or any of our other Safe Family Holiday campaign efforts follow us on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, visit our website for updates at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com/Safe-Holidays or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

Wilmington – In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights the importance of encouraging civic engagement among youth in Delaware.

“Studies show our students have an impressive commitment to volunteerism. They want to make a difference in our communities,” said Governor Markell. “So we need to ensure they understand just how much those communities are shaped by public servants, from how we support our schools to the capabilities of our police and fire departments.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/ud0id6IZEdA
Delaware.Gov:  http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/governormarkell

 Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Encouraging Civic Engagement Among Youth