With SNAP benefits disrupted by the federal shutdown—at the same time that food banks are stretched thin and Thanksgiving is approaching—my office is serving as a food drop-off site. If you are able, please consider donating non-perishable food items, which we will deliver weekly to food banks and pantries in our area. Stop by any weekday between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at my Cheswick office at 1296 Pittsburgh St.

I helped out this week at food banks for Allegheny Valley Association of Churches AVAC and Feeding The Flock Ministries, which are bracing to serve unprecedented numbers of hungry people. If you are interested in helping out at this critical time, my office has compiled a list of several food banks in our district, and if you know of an organization that provides assistance, please let us know so we can add it to our list.

• Lower Valley Community Food Bank, Springdale, (724)274-0867
• Feeding the Flock Ministries, Cheswick, (724)410-7941
• Allegheny Valley Association of Churches, Natrona Heights, (724)226-0606
• Sharpsburg Food Pantry, (412)781-2866
• Forged in Faith Church Food Bank, Russellton, (724)230-6009
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Drive-up, Tarentum, (412)460-3663

I was thrilled to see so many veterans this week at my annual Veterans’ Dinner at the Springdale Veterans Association. It was great talking with so many people who served our country, and I hope everyone found it enjoyable and helpful. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year!

The PA Fish and Boat Commission announced this week that the Deer Creek Access, which provides fishing and boating access to the Allegheny River in Hamar Township, will be closed through November 17 for improvements to the parking area. Anglers and boaters can find alternate access to the river by using the Kilbuck Access downstream or Freeport Access upstream. Read the PFBC announcement here.

From now through January 15, Pennsylvanians can enroll in health coverage through Pennie, the state’s health insurance marketplace created through Obamacare. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have yet to agree to extend health care subsidies. Consequently, we expect the cost of plans in our marketplace to go up significantly.

If you have questions or need help enrolling, visit Pennie.com/connect or call the Pennie Customer Service Center at 1-844-844-8040.

You might not realize it, but it’s entirely possible the PA Treasury has money that belongs to you. One in ten Pennsylvania residents has unclaimed property, with the average claim exceeding $1,000. The Treasury receives billions of dollars in unclaimed property, often due to misspelled names or incorrect addresses.

To see if you have unclaimed property waiting for you, visit here.

District Office

1296 Pittsburgh Street

Cheswick, PA 15024

(724) 826-5151

Pennsylvania State Capitol

111 B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 705-7141