Dear Neighbor & Estimado Vecino,

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

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 yourpreferences to make sure you're signed up for my emails.

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.   

This coming Tuesday is Veterans Day, where we honor and thank all who have served in the Armed Forces.

Please know that in recognition of our veterans, my office will be closed on Tuesday, November 11. If you need assistance that day, please contact my office, and my staff will get back to you when we reopen on Wednesday.

The federal government shutdown has delayed the opening of the LIHEAP heating program, which will cause our most vulnerable neighbors to suffer. I co-signed a letter with my House Democratic colleagues to the state Public Utility Commission urging commissioners to mandate a pause on the termination of heat-related services for LIHEAP-eligible households.

The program is expected to open on December 3, which may change depending on when the government shutdown ends. The good news is that PECO and PGW have agreed to halt shut offs during the government shutdown which will keep many families warm until the shutdown ends. 

Over 300,000 households in Pennsylvania rely on LIHEAP, including 150,000 seniors, families with young children, and people with disabilities. You can read our letter here.

Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, SNAP funding will run out at the end of this month, and benefits will not be delivered in November. That means over two million people across Pennsylvania will go without food aid, and more than half of them are families with children.

If you or someone you know receives SNAP benefits, reach out to my office to find out where you can get 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.

Along with these cuts, the federal government has also added new work requirements for SNAP, which will make it harder for many working-class people in our community to get their benefits. Starting November 1, these requirements apply to people who:

• Are between 18-64 years old;
• Do not have a dependent child under 14 years old; and
• Are considered physically and mentally able to work.

You may be exempt from these requirements. You can learn more about the work requirements and exemptions here.

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. We can also connect you with other programs the Treasury offers, such as PA Able or PA 529.

I was grateful to see so many neighbors come out at the Highlands for our Senior $cam Jam event!

New scams are being made every day, and it is important to stay aware so you can protect your identity. We had representatives from the PA Department of Banking and Securities, Attorney General Dave Sunday’s Office, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, the Wyomissing Police Department and AARP to help educate on how to avoid scams. 

According to the PA Attorney General’s Office, seniors make up one-third of scam victims statewide, with millions of dollars lost each year. Here in Berks County, financial exploitation is one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse. Thank you to all our partners who made this event possible and for sharing practical tools we can use right away.

Remember knowledge is your best defense. Scammers thrive on silence and confusion. We beat them with conversation, verification, and reporting. If something feels off - hang up, slow down and call a trusted source. If you have a question, need help reporting a scam, or want to be pointed to official resources, we’re here for you.

Our community turned out for an amazing Halloween season this weekend, which I took part in as Lady Liberty! I had a wonderful time at the fifth annual Halloween on Penn, where Penn St. was filled to the brim with activity and fun.

Then, I had the amazing chance to join Opportunity House's Learning Center for their Halloween celebration, all while learning more about the incredible work they do to educate, house, feed and support our community!

PennDOT is seeking public feedback on the installation of roundabouts along State Hill Road around the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing. The final project would see the expansion of State Hill Road to five lanes, and the construction of five roundabouts in the area.

You can provide your feedback here until November 20. Construction is expected to start summer 2027 and go until fall 2030.

West Lawn United Methodist Church has free community breakfasts weekly on Sundays! From 8:30 - 11 a.m., they will have pancakes, sausage, coffee and more available at the church community center, 101 Woodside Ave., West Lawn.

Sharing is always important around this time of year, and this Thanksgiving meal giveaway does just that. From 1 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, families in need can head to 101 W. Windsor St., Reading, to connect with helpful community resources and take home a complete, free Thanksgiving meal.

The Real Deal is collecting supplies and food to help over 3,000 families impacted by federal SNAP cuts. They are looking for nonperishable food, warm clothing, personal hygiene products, diapers and baby formula powder.

Products can be dropped off at the Berks Latino Workforce Development Tech Centro (450 S. 6th St., Reading) or Segunda LGL Tesalonica Christian Church (924 Greenwich St., Reading).

Opportunity House is also looking for diaper and wipe donations, including size 3, 4, 5 and 6 diapers. Please contact Kris Batista at kbatista@opphouse.org or 610-374-4696 to arrange drop-off.

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

1st and 3rd Friday 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