Megan Dunn's eNewsletter
Snohomish County Council
3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609
Everett, Washington 98201
8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building
Phone: 425-388-3494
E-Mail: Megan.Dunn@snoco.org
Paula Rhyne, Legislative Aide
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Dear Friend:
Recent reports coming out are showing that the early interventions and measures that we have been taking as a County and State have been reducing the severity of COVID-19 in our communities. The data is also showing that we have a ways to go to weather this storm together. The more we all hunker in, the sooner we can get back to the *new* new normal. I am grateful to our local leaders who have heeded the advice and expertise of doctors and public health officials to implement measures that have undoubtedly saved many lives. As we continue through this, please rely on information that’s being provided by trusted sources like the Snohomish Health District, Washington State Department of Health, and the National Center for Disease Control.
Wading our way through this pandemic has been incredibly difficult, and we have a ways to go before restrictions can ease. Easing up too early would have devastating impacts because they will roll back all of the progress we have all made together (but separately!) to flatten the curve.
With all of the difficult news out there, I am inspired by all of the stories about groups and individuals who have been going above and beyond to help others during this crisis. I think that we could all use a bit of good news lately, so this newsletter’s theme is “Find the Helpers.”
In this newsletter, I’m highlighting some groups that are helping on the front lines, local efforts to help neighbors in need, sharing resources that are available to help you through the financial impacts you may be experiencing, and ways that you can help as well. I’ve been able to organize bi-weekly calls with frontline human service providers to better coordinate the County’s efforts and to support the important work of community organizations. We have up to 60 members participating and have provided updates on food systems, housing, grant opportunities and sheltering. While the need is great, the dedication and commitment from these essential workers has been the highlight of my weeks.
I would love to hear more good news stories from you and other groups in the area. Feel free to email me with stories about helpers you have come across in your community and other good news. Also, if there are any programs that we can help highlight on our Facebook or Twitter accounts, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Last, if we can help you in any way, please consider us as a resource. You can email me at megan.dunn@snoco.org, or call us at 425-388-3494.
Hang in there folks! And remember to stay home and stay healthy!
In Service,
Megan Dunn, Councilmember District 2
and
Paula Rhyne, Legislative Aide
The Team at our Emergency Coordination Center is working tirelessly to prepare for the potential medical surge and to mitigate the impact that COVID-19 is projected to have on our communities. There are teams who are working hard to address food and sheltering needs for those in our communities, and they recently set up the isolation and quarantine site at the Angel of the Winds Arena. The group working with food access is examining food supply chains and making sure that our region continues to have enough food available at our grocery stores and restaurants. They have also been focusing on ensuring that our local food banks have the food available for the increased number of people who are becoming food insecure.
Recently the County's Department of Emergency Management held a PPE Donation Drive and Snohomish County came through strong! Over 100,000 pieces of personal protective equipment were donated for people on the front lines to be able to use. Many thanks to the helpers in the County for making these critical donations!
It can be hard to sift through all of the information out there, and the County has put together this information hub that has links to ways you can help by volunteering, donating blood, donating food, and other resources. You can also click on the link for Community Resources to scroll through ways you can access medical, food, employment, financial assistance, childcare, and sheltering help, as well as resources for immigrants and refugee families.
Last, our County Treasurer’s Office in conjunction with the County Executive recently announced extending the payment deadline for individual property tax payers. Property taxes for Property taxes for the first half of 2020 are now due on June 1, instead of the original due date of April 30. Please note that this extension applies only to individuals who pay their individual and commercial property taxes themselves, rather than through their mortgage lender. Banks and other financial institutions that pay property taxes on behalf of their lending customers will still need to meet the original April 30 deadline. If you have any questions about your bill or payment options, please use this contact form, or call them at 425-388-3366.
The Drive-Thru Testing Site near Everett Memorial Stadium has been a big help to make sure that we have an accurate infection case count. The site has tested over 2,100 number of people over the past three weeks. With traffic slowing down, and the sunsetting of support from the federal government, the site’s hours will be reduced. If you are in need of a test, please visit this website for more information about testing criteria and to sign up for an appointment.
Recently I was able to volunteer for a shift and saw first-hand the need for testing. The line of cars with people waiting to be tested extended all the way out to the roadway. The staff and volunteers at the site worked so hard to get everyone through and to stay safe and I’m appreciative of their continued efforts at the site. The following week, Councilmember Stephanie Wright, Legislative Analyst Heidi Beazizo, my Legislative Aide Paula Rhyne and myself all helped the frontline staff and volunteers by providing lunch and cookies to the volunteers to thank them for their hard work. Café Zippy’s and Karl’s Bakery provided the goodies. Here are some pictures!
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Councilmember Stephanie Wright, Analyst Heidi Beazizo, Legislative Aide Paula Rhyne, and Myself with lunch for the staff and volunteers.
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Cookies from Karl's Bakery!
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Delicious wraps and sandwiches from Cafe Zippy's!
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Karl’s Bakery is waiving the cost of individually wrapping their delicious cookies if you would like to order a few dozen to deliver to your local healthcare workers or first responders! We are proud to support local and small businesses during this difficult time.
A component of the Federal CARES Act is the availability of money for the Paycheck Protection Program. The Small Business Association is administering the program and the loans are available to small businesses to help keep employees on the books. If at least 75% of the loans are used for payroll, the loan can then be forgiven. Please check out their website for more information and to learn more about the application process.
The State’s Department of Social and Health Services recently announced a boost in the monthly payment for people receiving SNAP and Basic Food assistance. Emergency supplemental benefits will start showing up on people’s EBT cards starting April 4. With schools not in session for the remainder of the year, many families who rely on free or reduced lunches at school are now needing additional support to help feed their children throughout the month. The rising costs of costs of living and stagnated wages leave many families choosing between being able to pay rent and being able to put food on the table. I’m glad to see that many families who rely on this program will be able to feed their families during this time. Additionally, nearly all of the money that is distributed through this program comes right back to our local economy through food purchases at the grocery store or farmer’s market, which will help reduce the devastating impacts of a recession. For more information about these supplemental benefits, please visit this webpage.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Snohomish County Branch (NAACP-SCB) recently announced the availability of micro-grants which are available for individuals in Snohomish County who may be at risk of isolation, who are out of work due to COVID-19, who are people of color, or who are people with disabilities. For more information about how to apply, please email crisisassistance@naacp-snoco.org.
With the ongoing shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies for our first responders and healthcare workers, many local businesses and groups have been stepping up to help with production and procurement. I’ve heard of many groups putting together face coverings (see more below!), Boeing and others are using 3D printers to make PPE, and groups are gathering and donating materials. I recently reached out to Scratch Distillery who have been using their production line to shift their focus from spirits to making hand sanitizer. Knowing the shortage of hand sanitizer in the area, I picked up a five-gallon bucket of it and then delivered this to the AIDS Outreach Project of Snohomish County.
There are a lot of really great community programs going on and I’ve been continually inspired by all of the amazing ways that people have been pulling together (but no closer than 6’ together!) to help each other and to stay positive as well. Below are a few highlights.
Volunteers of America are holding a diaper drive at their food pantry on Casino Road. Last week, 75% of their visitors asked about diapers. If you have extra diapers (Sizes 3 and above are especially in need), please drop off donations at 14 East Casino Road on Mondays from 11-1 and also on Tuesdays from 9:30-1.
The Schack Art Center is doing a Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest. With folks hitting the sidewalks to do neighborhood walks, the Schack is encouraging sidewalk art to help brighten up the city. Create some art, take a pic, and send it to the Schack to enter a chance to win some fun prizes. More information and how to enter can be found here.
Café Zippy’s in North Everett has a fantastic wine club that you can join, and recently, they started a “Gratitude Bucket” where you can donate a bottle (or two!) of their wines to go directly to local hard working hospital staff and first responders. Please get in touch with Café Zippy’s today by calling 425-303-0474 or emailing at wickedwineclub@gmail.com to donate a bottle, and also please let any local first responders or hospital workers know that they can stop by and collect a bottle as a token of thanks! Café Zippy’s address is 1502 Rucker Ave, Everett, WA 98201.
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Groups have been working in partnership with local food banks to help make cloth face covers for the general public to be able to use. Here's a great article from the Tulalip News site highlighting a Tribal member making homemade masks and sharing more about the need that they fill to keep our community healthy. The CDC has recommended that healthcare workers and first responders should still use the N95 masks, but the community can use cloth face covers to help protect themselves and others from the virus. Here is an article from the CDC with suggestions on how to make one. If you have the supplies and time on your hands to make some face coverings, please get in touch with our Department of Emergency Management (dem@snoco.org) so that they can help direct you to where your masks would be most helpful.
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Local artists with Art Spot Studio would also like to extend more art in our communities and are offering free online art tutorials as well as free adult coloring pages that you can print off. With this lovely weather coming up this weekend, drawing or painting in the sunshine sound like a great way to stay home and stay mentally healthy! Check out their website for more information.
With the great weather and signs of spring, I know that it is difficult to continue to heed the orders to Stay Home and Stay Healthy. For our faith-based communities, the Snohomish Health District has put together information regarding how to stay connected, and it’s available in several different languages.
A big heart-felt thank you to all of the helpers in our community. Whether you’re on the front lines, persistently staying at home, sewing masks, donating to food banks, making art, or anything in between, your hard work is what has flattened the curve, and will continue to flatten the curve. Thank you!
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