WHEREAS, In 1990, Herbert Tsuchiya, a retired pharmacist and long-time community activist; Bertha Lung Tsuchiya, his wife; and Sam Mitsui, a member of the highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II, decided to take community ownership of the issue of hunger by organizing a fund-raising walk to help the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Food Bank provide rice and other culturally familiar foods to the most vulnerable among us, including Asians, Pacific Islanders, and others in need; and

WHEREAS, 25 years ago, Herb and Sam organized the first Walk for Rice at the Chinese Baptist Church in Beacon Hill under the sponsorship of the Blaine Methodist Church, Chinese Baptist Church, and Japanese Baptist Church, in which 45 participants raised $1,800 towards ending hunger in their community; and

WHEREAS, For 25 consecutive years, Sam and Herb have dedicated themselves to the issue of hunger by organizing, walking, and running in Walk for Rice, which in 2014 had over 1,000 participants and raised a record high of $274,538 in donations; and

WHEREAS, Each year at Walk for Rice, the community gathers to honor the legacy Sam, Herb, and Bertha created by coming together to fight hunger in our communities and support the ACRS Food Bank; and

WHEREAS, Through the ongoing efforts of Herb and Sam, Walk for Rice has helped the ACRS Food Bank distribute over 969,801 pounds of food to 5,665 families that visit the food bank over 120,000 times annually; and

WHEREAS, Herb and Sam, with many others, continue to support ACRS, Walk for Rice, and other organizations and projects that enrich and strengthen our community;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor and celebrate the achievements and impact of Herb Tsuchiya's and Sam Mitsui's many contributions to our community; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Herb Tsuchiya, Sam Mitsui, and the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, for further distribution to the community.