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Friend
--
I hope you’re doing well and staying safe. The last few weeks have
been incredibly busy around Ward 6, as well as at home with our two
kids starting their virtual school year, and at the Council as it
ramps up for its fall legislative session. In addition, I’ve also been
working with local leaders as we continue to respond to, and work to
prevent, the persistent gun violence in some parts of our city. This
is a multi-faceted challenge, but something we must bring the full
weight of government to combat. I’ve seen how we can mobilize
government to respond to the public health emergency of COVID-19, and
I believe we can and should do the same to respond to the public
health emergency of gun violence. I believe that response must be more
than a call for “law and order“ -- it must be an effort that leverages
the resources, talents, and capacity of every part of government. Gun
violence doesn’t just come out of nowhere. It is often the product of
trauma and violence, a loss of hope for the future, personal conflict
that should be resolved peacefully, challenges with mental health or
substance use, and much more. Our Office on Neighborhood Safety and
Engagement is engaged in that work and we need to act strategically
and with urgency. That’s also why I’ve created, working with anti-gun
violence advocates like Moms Demand Action and others, a new Gun
Violence Prevention Director position within the highest levels of DC
government. Their job will be to focus solely on stopping gun violence
and to bring all the resources -- cutting across all DC government
agencies -- needed to meet this challenge. This isn’t the only way we
will work to end gun violence, but it’s another step we need to take
in a comprehensive response to save lives. If you’d like to read more
about the many efforts underway to address violence, support survivors
and victims, and work on root causes, check out the recent report from the Council on
how we’re enhancing funding and initiatives through the District’s
budget.
 Marking September
11th: On Friday, I joined Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson,
Councilmember Pinto, and first responders to solemnly mark the 19th
anniversary of the September 11th attacks. On that day 19 years ago,
first responders from the District raced to the Pentagon to save lives
and help rescue people trapped in the attack. And at the same time, we
mourned the loss of so many, including DC Public School students and
teachers on the flight that day. It’s important that we never forget
the bravery of that day, and I’m proud to be have been a part of this
important marker.
Don't forget to get a flu shot! This year more
than ever, getting a flu shot is an important way to stay well and
keep your family safe, and help prevent our hospitals and testing
sites from being overburdened while they continue to battle COVID
infections. Experts recommend flu shots for nearly everyone 6 months
of age and older. Visit vaccinefinder.org to find one nearby.
Unemployment Insurance: As many of you have
probably seen, the District has been approved
for a grant under the federal Lost Wages Assistance
Program—allowing many District residents who are still looking for
work to get an additional $300 per week. This is a replacement for the
additional $600 in unemployment benefits that many had been receiving,
until that program ran out at the end of July. Under the new program,
which is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), anyone who is getting at least $100 per week in unemployment
benefits will be eligible for the new $300 payment. So if you are
currently receiving any unemployment benefits at all, be sure to
continue to fill out weekly reports. I also want to flag that once you
reach 26 weeks of any unemployment benefits, you may have to reapply.
For those who have been receiving benefits since March, 26 weeks may
be coming soon. More details can be found on my Facebook page.
 Public Schools and Distance
Learning: Now that we're a couple of weeks into the school
year, my family is getting into a routine for learning from home, and
I hope yours is, too. But it is not without its struggles. Thanks to
everyone - especially students, teachers, and parents - for their
patience and perseverance. Technology (both devices and reliable
online connections) remains a top concern. I’ve worked with several
of our charter schools as they navigate the new school year for their
students and their needs. If you’re looking for more information on
individual charter schools’ efforts, you can you find more here. And while DCPS has distributed
over 23,000 student devices so far, we know too many are still
waiting. To request a device, contact your student's school or for
DCPS, complete this form. For tech support with DCPS
devices or DCPS online learning programs, please call 202-442-5885. To
increase internet access, DC Government is reaching out to 25,000
eligible low-income students and families to help them enroll in
no-cost broadband programs. More information at techtogetherdc.com/internetforall
2020 Census Ends September 30: We are running out
of time to get every DC resident counted in the US Census. The
District's response rate is currently 62.2%, 3.5% behind the national
rate and if we don't catch up quickly, we're at serious risk of losing
out on a lot of federal funding moving forward. If you haven't
completed the Census, you can do so right now online and in just 10
minutes. Click here: https://my2020census.gov/
The response window for the Census has been cut short by one month,
ending September 30 now instead of October 31. Census workers are in
the process of going door-to-door. We're about 20,000 households
behind where we were in 2010 at this point. If you haven't responded
yet, we really need you. If you have already responded, remind your
friends and neighbors to do the same - post a link in any neighborhood
listservs and groups you're part of. Here's the link again: https://my2020census.gov/
Here's What You Need to Know About Voting in the General
Election: In the middle of a global pandemic, the US and the
District of Columbia will still need to hold our general election on
Tuesday, November 3. Recognizing how important it will be to minimize
the spread of the novel coronavirus while still giving District
residents as much access to voting as possible. I've
put all of the information Ward 6 residents need to either vote by
mail or vote in person safely in the General Election on my
website.
 Testing: There is free, public testing for
COVID-19 available in Ward 6 or across the District nearly every day.
Keep in mind most testing sites are outdoors and are subject to
closure during bad weather. It seems like testing results are getting
turned around much faster the longer this pandemic goes on, but let me
know if you're finding otherwise. On Tuesday, testing will be
available 10am-4pm at King-Greenleaf Rec Center in Southwest for
everyone ages 6 and older. As a reminder, here are the other testing
sites in or near Ward 6 each week:
Fire Station Engine 8: 1520 C St., NE
Thursdays and
Fridays, 4-8 pm
Saturdays, 12-4 pm
Fire Station Engine 10: 1342 Florida Ave, NE
Thursdays
and Fridays, 4-8 pm
Saturdays, 12-4 pm
Of course, you can find a
site open most days in the District here if you'd like to get
tested sooner.
Free Student/Kid Meal Sites As Of Sept 1: Click
here to see the updated list of school
meals being provided as we begin the 2020-2021 school year. Please
note, students can get a meal from any school. Here's a link
to meal sites based on bus lines.
If Your Child Receives a Free School Meal, There's Extra
Help For You: During the pandemic, families with one or more
children receiving free or reduced-price meals through the National
School Lunch Program, you can sign-up here for extra support with food
during the pandemic. Learn
more and enroll with DC's Department of Human Services, and share
this information in your neighborhood.
 Help For Tenants: If you are
behind in your rent, there might be support available. Additional
funding from the federal government will be available to assist
District residents. More
information here. The Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network is
providing free legal help to both unrepresented tenants and
unrepresented small landlords who have residential housing disputes.
Call 202-780-2575 for more information.
DC Relaunches Mortgage Assistance: If you're a
home owner in the District of Columbia whose income has been hurt by
the pandemic, you could be eligible for mortgage assistance through
DC's Housing Finance Agency. Get
the information here!
Here's Who To Support Financially or By Volunteering During
COVID: At this point, we've been living physical distancing
for more than 100 days. The initial burn to do something may have
faded, but these organizations are still doing great work to help our
neighbors and they're worth your support. If you find yourself with a
lot of time and you are healthy and able to volunteer, these are
groups that can put you to work. I cannot emphasize enough, however,
that if you are not feeling well at all, please do not volunteer. And
if you are fortunate enough to be in a position to make donations,
these are organizations helping put food on the table and meet other
needs for your neighbors right here in Ward 6 and across the
District:
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Ward
6 Mutual Aid Network: Started by Ward 6 neighbor Maurice
Cook and Serve Your City, this is a group collecting and
redistributing food and other essential items for neighbors.
-
World
Central Kitchen: Chef José Andres' nonprofit kitchen has
set up shop at Nationals Park and has been serving up hundreds of
meals to Ward 6 seniors. If you can chip in to keep their work going,
know it is helping your neighbors.
-
DC
Medical Reserve Corps: Organized by the DC Government,
here's a way to help out as our medical response scales up.
-
DC
Public Schools: In need of volunteers to help keep
running their many meal sites for kids in DC during school closures!
Please fill out the linked survey.
-
Capital
Area Food Bank: In critical need of volunteers to help
sort and pack food in their warehouse and assist at their offsite food
distributions
-
Food
and Friends DC: In urgent need of extra volunteers
throughout the coming weeks. There are two volunteer opportunities,
food preparation and packaging and meal and grocery delivery
-
Food
Rescue US: Volunteers with vehicles needed to pick up and
deliver food from businesses to DC residents in need
-
Grace’s
Table: Looking for volunteers to help feed the homeless
each Saturday
-
Martha’s
Table: Volunteers needed to help prepare and bag food for
their emergency food sites across the city
-
We
Are Family: Volunteer to deliver groceries to
seniors.
-
Food
for All DC: Volunteer to drive groceries to seniors,
immunocompromised, and other DC neighbors who are homebound.
Volunteer here.
-
Aunt
Bertha: Aunt Bertha’s network connects people seeking
help and verified social care providers that serve them by zip code.
Contact your local shelter to see what help and/or items may be
needed
Free diapers:
Free groceries for residents:
-
Ten DC School Sites Distributing Free Groceries Each Week:
I mentioned this above, but sharing here as well. Ten DCPS
meal locations are now distributing groceries as well as student
meals. Every Monday is Eastern High School's day to distribute in
Ward.
-
Martha's Table: Daily grocery distribution at 2nd and
H Street, from 5:15-5:45 pm. Donate here to support their work: https://marthastable.networkforgood.com/projects/95536-martha-s-table-martha-s-table-expanded-programs-covid-19
-
Capital Area Food Bank: Behind many good nonprofits
is the CAFB, supplying many groceries from bulk purchasing to food
pantries across the region. Help them today: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/donate/
-
Father McKenna Center Grocery Pantry Now Open: One of
the programs partnering with the Capital Area Food Bank is the Father
McKenna Center at 900 North Capitol St., NW. Information
on how to support or receive groceries here.
-
H Street Food Drive for Ward 5-6 Neighbors:
Contactless food/groceries available for neighbors who need some extra
assistance. They also offer contactless food delivery for anyone in
the area that needs it, especially elderly, single parents, those with
special needs. Drop off or Send Non-Perishable Food Deliveries To: @maketto1351 |
Attention: H ST. NE FOOD DRIVE | 1351 H ST. NE, Washington, D.C.
20002. Send all monetary donations To: PayPal: PayPal.me/CHRiSCARDi
| Venmo: @ChrisCardi
-
Pick up at Maketto: 1351 H Street, NE
Monday – Saturday:
7:30am – 9:30pm
Sunday: 7:30am -5pm
- If in need of delivery assistance text 202-681-3532
Thanks and keep wearing your mask,
Charles
Allen
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