Weekly Recap: What You Might Have Missed
Another week filled with virtual meetings and discussions with stakeholders in the district on how we can continue fighting for families. From food insecurity, to veterans issues, to gun violence, to the census, my team and I are working every day to address issues facing our community.
Here’s what you might have missed:
Hosted a Roundtable on Fighting Hunger
Families who were already food insecure have been hit incredibly hard by this pandemic. Our neighbors are hungry — That’s why I hosted a roundtable with panelists from the region who are leading the fight against hunger.
Even before Covid19 hit, the statistics were daunting: In Pennsylvania, 1.5 Million people were hungry, half of them are children. Those numbers were even more alarming in Philadelphia and Delaware County: 12.3% of the. Delco population was food insecure and 20.1% of Philadelphia population. The pandemic just made it worse.
For years, I’ve worked with food banks, community gardens, farm markets and other nonprofits to help make sure that everyone in our community has access to healthy food. As a school board member, I helped improve the quality of school lunches, and ended a program that singled out children receiving free and reduced lunches.
At our roundtable, I was joined by old and new friends from organizations on the frontlines of this issue:
- Rev. Zuline Wilkinson, Chester Eastside
- Caryn Earl, Pa Department of Agriculture Food Assistance Bureau
- Haile Johnston, The Common Market
- Gayle Oddi, Delaware County DHS
- Stacey Behm, Philabundance
- Portia Kamara, Multicultural Family
Listen to our discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/RepMGS/videos/256247722120971/
Joined Cory Long for a conversation with Making a Change Group on Facebook
It was great to talk to Cory Long, Founder & Executive Director of Making A Change Group, about the state of our district and what I’m doing in Congress to fight for our most. disadvantaged communities.
As our community mourns the loss of 13 year old Ny’Ques Davis who was murdered this week, gun violence was an issue at the top of our minds. There have been 17 fatal shootings in Chester in the last 4 months. In the midst of the Covid19 pandemic, we still must address the pain and suffering caused by our national gun violence epidemic. I promise to continue doing everything in my power to bring resources to combat gun violence and bring justice to our community.
Listen to our conversation here: https://www.facebook.com/2317303261926393/posts/2789805298009518/
Announced Congressional Art Competition
This year, our office will be hosting this contest virtually. High school students are encouraged to create art at home with supplies they have available. To submit your creation for the art competition, share a photo of your artwork with us on social media using the hashtag #StayHomeMakeArtPA5 or tag our Instagram account @StayHomeMakeArtPA5, and fill our the form below.
If you do not have social media, you may also submit a photo of your artwork via PA05ArtComp@mail.house.gov. If your artwork is selected as the winner, we will coordinate how to transport the winning piece to DC. We can’t wait to see what you create!
More information: https://scanlon.house.gov/services/art-competition.htm
Hosted a Coffee With Your Congresswoman on Veterans Issues
My team and I have been working around the clock to stay in touch with veterans to get them the resources they need to take care of themselves, their families, and their small businesses.
I know our veterans have been hit hard by the coronavirus, and I am committed to doing everything I can to get them the resources they need to live the dignified, post-enlistment life they deserve.
It was great to have a live discussion with Michael Taub, who serves as Veterans Project Director of the Homeless Advocacy Project, to help me answer your questions about challenges our Veterans are facing and how our office can help.
Check our our conversation here: https://twitter.com/repmgs/status/1257688733282959361?s=21
Penned an Op-Ed for Newsweek: Taking Part in the Census Can Be a Life or Death Matter When Crisi Hits. Step Up and Be Counted
Before this virus’s brutal and fatal upending of our daily lives, we were. gearing up for the 2020 Census — a critical, constitutional, complete count of every person living in the United States. The data collected by the Census helps determine how billions of dollars in federal funding is allocated to states and communities each year.
Systemic and racial inequities are exacerbated by a pandemic that requires economic, food, and housing security as the first line of defense. Ensuring a complete Census is the rear guard for that line of defense for the most vulnerable members of our community.
Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/mary-gay-scanlon-census-2020-covid-19-1502015
We also celebrated our frontline heroes this week, honoring nurses on National Nurses Day, and meeting with leadership from PSEA, PFT and AFT of PA during Teacher Appreciation Week to discuss the challenges facing teachers as they transition to remote teaching, and what they will need to prepare for the fall. And of course this weekend we will celebrate Mothers Day.
I know that this has been an incredibly challenging time filled with uncertainty. We have compiled a list of resources available to constituents during #COVID19. If you have any questions, please call our office at 610–626–2020. We are here to help.
