Dear Neighbors and Friends, 

I hope you are enjoying the new year and staying safe and healthy. I wanted to provide a quick update on what has been happening across the Commonwealth, in the legislature, and in my office. As always, please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns. 

IN THE STATE HOUSE
My staff and I moved offices this past week, so we have a new phone number you can contact us at. The new phone number is 617-722-2575. The State House is still not open to the public, due to COVID-19 but when it is, our new office is room 146. 

This week, the House was back in formal session for the first time this year and we unanimously passed a $55 million COVID-19 response bill. The bill (H.4340) appropriates $30 million to establish and expand COVID testing sites, with at least $5 million dedicated to expanding vaccination rates among kids aged 5 to 11. Another $25 million would go towards the “acquisition and distribution of high quality personal protective masks for children and faculty in elementary and secondary public school districts.” The bill is now set to clear the Senate, and end up on Governor Charlie Baker’s desk next week. There is still so much work to be done as we continue to navigate the pandemic, but I am confident that this is a step in the right direction.

WEST END FLOOD
On Saturday, January 15th, there was a flood at the West End Place Coop, which resulted in the displacement of 25 households. The residents are now temporarily housed in hotels or with friends/family as the City works on clean-up and remediation.

This morning I met with those working closely with the residents to identify areas of need. There are several ways you can help if you are able, including the following: 

• In the short term, residents that were affected need money for food since many of them are temporarily living in hotels without kitchens. Gift cards to Star Market or UberEats / DoorDash would be helpful in alleviating that burden. If this is something you can help with, please contact Cassidy from my office, at Cassidy.Trabilcy@mahouse.gov. 

• In the coming weeks and months, residents will need volunteers to help sort through their houses and move things into storage. If this is something you can help with, and you would like to be put on the volunteer list, please contact Cassidy from my office, at Cassidy.Trabilcy@mahouse.gov. 

• Once the housing units are repaired, many of the residents will need their furniture items and mattresses that were destroyed to be replaced. If you have donation items that might help, please contact Cassidy from my office, at Cassidy.Trabilcy@mahouse.gov. 

Thank you in advance for your assistance as these families navigate the challenging weeks and months to come.

FOOD INSECURITY 
The number of people experiencing food insecurity has dramatically increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic leaving more people without access to food than ever as variants continue to ripple through our communities. Feeding America reported that 1 in 12 people in Massachusetts face hunger, noting that many people do not realize the grave disparities that exist within our communities, and that people face hunger in every county and congressional district in Massachusetts. 

At this time last year, Feeding America food insecurity projections showed that Massachusetts had seen the greatest percentage increase (59%) in food insecurity in the country due to the pandemic. This increase has disproportionately affected Black and Latinx families who have been hit hardest by the pandemic due to persistent systemic racism and discrimination. 

While food insecurity reports for 2022 are still in progress, it is predicted that food insecurity will continue to be a pressing issue for the Commonwealth for years to come. There are a number of ways that you can help fight food insecurity in your communities, whether through monetary donations, volunteering in shelters and food banks, or signing up for local food distributions. 

Some of the organizations fighting food insecurity that my office works closely with are below.  Thank you in advance for your continued support on this critical issue across the Commonwealth. 

• My staff and I regularly volunteer at Fenway Cares which began in response to the pandemic in March 2020, and has distributed 10,000+ free bags of produce to community members in need to date and will continue throughout 2022. To support Fenway Cares - either as a volunteer or by making a donation, click here. 

• Women’s Lunch Place in Back Bay is a welcoming day shelter that provides nutritious breakfast and lunch to women in need with an effort to eradicate hunger, homelessness and poverty among women. WLP also supports the development of self-sustaining skills for women in need by providing services focused on nutrition, health, housing, and economic empowerment. To support Women’s Lunch Place - either as a volunteer or by making a donation, click here. 

• Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, they distributed 117 million pounds of nutritious food to people who struggle with food insecurity. To support Greater Boston Food Bank - either as a volunteer or by making a donation, click here.