John,

I hope you’re staying safe and doing well. 

I’ve been so inspired by how our neighborhoods have come together over the last month. This crisis has shown the best of what our community has to offer and how much we can achieve when we come together. 

Each and every day, volunteers are partnering with local nonprofits working to ensure our neighbors — housed or unhoused, young and old, at-risk or in need — have hot meals, masks, cleaning, and hygienic supplies. To that end, we’ve worked to deliver food and masks to seniors, ran donation drives for hygiene kits, and put laptops directly in the hands of our kids so they have the tools they need to keep up with their studies away from the classroom.

But this crisis has also shown how far we have to rise up as a city to ensure no one is left behind or falls through the cracks. This virus does not discriminate, but its effects have not been dealt equally. It has shown how easily our lives can be tipped from stability — whether it be the family that can’t make rent, the friend who lost their job and healthcare, the small business on your block forced to close permanently or the loved one who has gotten sick. 

For my part, I’ve tried to join in and give back as much and as often as I can. Do you think you could take a moment to give back to our community here in San Francisco?

One local organization that could use our help is Collective Impact + MoMagic. In addition to providing food boxes, hot meals, and laptops to kids every day, Collective Impact is working with the Maxine Hall Health Center to start testing seniors right here in the Western Addition. If you're able, I encourage you to make a donation today to help these programs and services continue.

On Monday, it was announced that the shelter in place will be extended through May across the Bay Area. I’ve been keeping an updated list of D5-specific resources for those in-need, as well as opportunities to volunteer. Please utilize and share.

Stay strong and please reach out to me directly if there’s anything you need.