For those most vulnerable among us, times are incredibly tough. Our office hears every day from people who have lost their jobs in connection to COVID-19, people who need food brought to their home to avoid potentially life threatening exposure, people who are shutting down their businesses to protect the public health, and people who are putting their health on the line at work every day to care for others.
Are you in need of assistance? Please reach out to my office at 872-208-5188 or www.senatorram.com/contact-us. Our staff can help with a wide range of needs from grocery delivery to navigating the application for unemployment benefits.
Looking for ways to support others in our communities? Here are 5 ways you can help:
1. Support our community food pantries
Food pantries in our community have seen an incredible uptick in need, some seeing 10x their usual number of clients over the last few weeks.
They have dramatically increased their capacity to order, pack, and distribute food, toiletries, and more in mere days. All the while, implementing critical and difficult safety practices to protect clients and volunteers.
Staff are working day and night to keep up with need.
In order to help keep up with this need, I am working with State Senator Laura Fine, State Senator Heather Steans, State Representative John D'Amico, State Representative Kelly Cassidy, State Representative Mark "Yehiel" Kalish, State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Commissioner Larry Suffredin, Commissioner Bridgett Degnen, Commissioner Scott Brittton, Alderman Debra Silverstein, Alderman Samantha Nugent, Alderman Andre Vasquez, MWRD Commissioner Josina Morita, and Committeeman Lou Lang to raise funds for our community food pantries and we need your help.
Every donation counts, whether you have $15, $50, $100, $250, or $500 to spare.
Donations will be split among the following organizations that are feeding neighbors in and around the 8th District:
Niles Township Food Pantry
Maine Township Food Pantry
Northfield Township Food Pantry
ICNA Relief-Chicago
The Salvation Army Mayfair Corp of Community Food Pantry
City of Niles Familiy Services
Care for Real
Howard Area Community Center
A Just Harvest
Northwest Church of Christ
Seventh-day Adventist Church Chicago
Edgebrook Lutheran Church
Common Pantry
The Ark
Chicago Chesed Fund Food Pantry, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago, Bikur Cholim of Chicago, Agudath Israel of Illinois, Chicago Center for Torah and Chesed, Chicago Mitzvah Campaign.
2. Support your local businesses
Local businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating jobs and bringing critical services to our community. They are also among the businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking for ways to support local small businesses? A few great options are order carry-out or delivery from your favorite local restaurants or buying gift cards for later use at local shops.
Check out chamber pages for information on specific businesses and more tips: West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Edgebrook-Sauganash Chamber of Commerce, Niles Chamber of Commerce, Skokie Chamber of Commerce, Lincolnwood Chamber of Commerce, Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce, Glenview Chamber of Commerce, Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce.
3. Support our first responders by donating Personal Protective Equipment
There is an urgent call for more personal protective equipement (PPE).
The Illinois Department of Public Health is encouraging all outpatient surgical and procedural centers, ambulatory surgery centers, and veterinarians, among others, to donate their unused PPE that is not immediately needed to assist health care providers, health care facilities, and first responders who are on the front line and actively responding to COVID-19.
Any type of PPE will be welcomed, especially surgical gloves, gowns, goggles, face shields, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks.
To donate PPE, please email
Have leads on PPE manufacturers? Email
4. Volunteer with #TeamRam to make senior calls
Join #TeamRam to call seniors in our district's communities from your own home. We will be asking if they have any general question regarding what is happening as well as asking what assistance and/or services they may need. Our constituent service team is able to follow up.
This is an all in effort to make sure people have accurate information and get the help they need and deserve. All volunteers will be trained, no experience required.
Sign up HERE to join us on the phones!
5. Share accurate information about available resources
Our team has compiled an up to date list of available resources from different levels of government. Click HEREto view that list and click HERE to view FAQ's. Please share widely.
It is critical that we circulate accurate, up to date info and share available resources.
Thank you in advance for all you are doing to strengthen and unite our community.
