Dear Neighbor & Estimado Vecino,

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For Spanish readers, please read the full Spanish-language version of this email here.

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I hope you are well. I would like to share important information about my ongoing work. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office for help with any state-related issues. To stay informed,?visit my official page. You can also check your?preferences?to make sure you're signed up for?my emails.?

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Para los lectores en?español, lea una versión completa de este boletín electrónico?en su idioma?aquí.?  

Espero que estén bien. Me gustaría compartir información importante sobre mi trabajo en curso. Y no olvides?visitar mi página oficial?para mantenerte informado.?También puede verificar sus?preferencias?para asegurarse de que está registrado para recibir mis correos electrónicos.   

I am hosting a Black Health Matters Community Conversation

Black History Month is a time to celebrate resilience, leadership and contributions that have shaped our nation. It is also a time to confront the health disparities that continue to impact Black families and to work together—across communities and regions – to build equitable systems that ensure everyone has access to quality care.  
This event will bring together neighbors, healthcare professionals, educators, faith leaders and advocates to discuss real, actionable solutions to improve health outcomes and expand access to culturally responsive care. 

Event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Zion Baptist Church in Reading from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.  

Event speakers will include Ebony McNeil, Executive Director, The Forge; Tremayne Jones, CEO, Betterview Counseling and Trauma Recovery; Wynton Butler, Director of Social Services, Reading School District; Carmen Booker, founder, House of Portalain; Dr. Olubunmi Ojikutu, Chair of Pediatrics, Reading Hospital; Desha Dickson, Vice President of Community Wellness, Tower Health.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Daniel Sansary, the Executive Director of Neighborbood Housing Services of Greater Berks, to discuss the incredible progress NHS has been making across the Commonwealth. In 2025 alone, NHS helped create 289 homeowners statewide- with 52% right here in Berks County and 25% in the City of Reading.

It was inspiring to talk about the many ways we can continue working together to tackle housing affordability in Berks and across Pennsylvania, ensuring more families have the opportunity to achieve stable, sustainable homeownership. For more information on Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks, Inc., please visit:  https://berksconnect.com/business/neighborhood-housing-services-of-greater-berks-inc. 

This week, I am spotlighting Addison McKittrick, a founding member of my Youth Council. They are currently a pre-med Biology student at Drexel University who has picked up significant experience in local government and leadership during their time on the council.

Do you know any high school students who are passionate about public service and engaged in our community? They can apply to join my Youth Council here.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has new grant and scholarship opportunities available. You can learn more about the available programs and requirements here.

The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus is now accepting applications for its annual James R. Roebuck Scholarship. Applicants are required to be a resident of Pennsylvania, a person of color, and a graduating high school senior or current undergraduate student.

Applications are due on Friday, Feb. 20, and can be turned in here.

The PA House Fellowship Program is accepting applications from eligible Pennsylvania college students for the Summer 2026 semester. Fellows work in committees or leadership offices at the state Capitol.

The program provides compensation and may also offer college credit. Eligible applicants include college juniors, seniors, graduate students, or law students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Applications are due by March 2. Visit here to learn more.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications! This program provides cash and crisis grants to help families cover their heating bills as we head into winter. Grant amounts range from $200 to $1,000, depending on your income, household size, and fuel type.

You can apply here or contact my office for assistance.

Applications for Property Tax/Rent Rebates are now open! This gives money back to PA renters and homeowners for costs from 2025 - including seniors, widows and widowers, and those with disabilities.

You can learn more here and contact my office for support with your application. Applications are due by June 30.

Many Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property - money from dormant bank accounts, insurance payments, uncashed checks - and you may be one of them!

My office can help you receive this unclaimed property. Contact us or go to PATreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to see if there is anything available in your name.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please reach out to my office to find out where you can find help. You can also click here to go to Helping Harvest's website, which has a map of over 350 charitable food program partners in our area.

Helping Harvest will also be collecting non-perishable food items throughout the year at their programs and events. You can learn more about those and how to ensure our neighbors are fed here.

Girls Empowerment Movements will be helping to make prom dreams come true with free dresses, accessories and support for students! The event will be held on March 15 from noon - 4 p.m. at 1011 North Park Road, Suite 300, Wyomissing.

RIZE Youth Arts will be hosting a free youth dance program on Wednesdays at GoggleWorks (201 Washington St., Reading). Latin dance lessons begin at 5 p.m., and hip hop dance lessons begin at 6 p.m. Registration can be found here.

Reading Hospital, along with the Junior League of Reading and Berks Teens, will be hosting Let's Talk, Period - a judgement-free, stigma-breaking event that brings medical professionals together to ensure that girls can have honest, down-to-earth discussions about puberty and periods.

The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Sullivan Auditorium (1025 Old Wyomissing Road). They will also be collecting new and gently used bras to distribute to local agencies.

Space is limited - register here or by emailing communitywellness@towerhealth.org.

Routine mammograms are important to find the first signs of breast cancer. Tower Health has started their Mobile Mammography stops for 2026, with stops across our community. You can find what locations they will be at on which days here.

As always, my team and I are here to help you navigate state programs and services. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas. If you can't make it into my district office, you can visit one of my satellite offices! Find my office information below:

Centro Hispano Casa Senior Center

25 N. 2nd St., Reading, PA, 19601

Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to Noon

Spring Township Municipal Building

2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring, PA, 19608

NEW: 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 9 a.m. to Noon

We also host DAV Services (Disabled American Veterans) in my office

1111 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA 19610

Every other Monday from 9 a.m. to Noon

Pennsylvania State Capitol

104-A East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-1858

District Office

1111 Penn Ave.
Wyomissing, PA 19610

(484) 577-2756

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