We are going to get through the coronavirus outbreak together. If you are experiencing symptoms or are looking for more information, you can visit the website of the CDC or the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. We are closely monitoring the situation and its effects on the people of Montana and our nation as we work together to keep our families and communities safe.

John,

One of my favorite things about Montanans is their can-do spirit. The people of Montana have incredible strength and resilience. We don’t care if the going gets hard. We keep pushing on.

A couple of months ago, I wanted to find a way to support our health care workers, particularly in rural communities. I discovered that I could use my 3D printer to produce masks and face shields. I ordered materials and fired up the printer — which has been going nonstop ever since.

The biggest obstacle in my way was getting the equipment to healthcare workers throughout Montana, I was producing more shields than I could distribute through personal contacts.

That’s when a friend told me about Tom — a candidate for the U.S. House who had stopped campaigning and had directed some of his campaign resources to purchase and distribute PPE to Montana’s rural and tribal health care workers. She put us in touch, and within a few hours I got a call from Tom Winter. He told me about tribal health centers that had run out of PPE. And about the rural healthcare workers he had met who were using diapers as masks, and how scared they were. Montana’s healthcare workers deserve better. Tom and I agreed — if the government wasn’t going to help, we were going to have to do it ourselves.

So now we have a system. Every few days, I put a bag of 3D-printed face shields on my porch and within a few hours, Tom grabs them and distributes them to those in need.

I’m telling you this story because last week Tom called me to tell me that he’d brought our most recent delivery to a clinic that treats asbestosis and mesothelioma patients. Tears of gratitude filled my eyes — my dad passed away from mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

I’m voting for Tom Winter because he does the right thing, even when it’s hard. He will always put Montanans first.

Thank you, Representative Winter.

Alaina Hardie

Rep. Tom Winter proudly represents Montana’s 96th district in the State House. In 2018, Tom flipped his state house seat from Red to Blue in a Trump +10 district by talking to every voter, regardless of party. As a rising star in the Democratic Party, Tom has been fighting hard in the state house to ensure all Montanans have access to affordable, quality healthcare. Tom is running for Congress in 2020 for Montana’s At Large congressional seat. To learn more click here.