Dear Neighbor,

The past few weeks have been busy in the House of Representatives, and I have been working on passing a variety of legislation that supports all Michiganders and speaking with constituents across the 52nd District. I look forward to seeing many of you at my upcoming district events in the next few months.

As always, you can contact my staff and me at (517) 373-0828, by email at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov or by visiting my website at RepLasinski.com with any questions, thoughts or suggestions.

 

Executive Update

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms Program

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature recently expanded funding for the 10 Cents a Meal Program, which is available to schools statewide as well as early childhood education centers. We increased the funding nearly ninefold from $575,000 to $5 million for the 2021-2022 school year. This program has been critical for our communities and children by ensuring kids have access to fresh produce and fruit at school.

A few semesters ago, I visited Dexter schools’ cafeterias to see the impact of the Kids and Farms program and am happy to have been able to support its growth.

This program also supports Michigan farmers by providing incentives for schools to purchase Michigan-grown produce. Grants were awarded to 143 school districts and early child care centers, which gave nearly 440,000 of Michigan’s children access to fresh vegetables and fruit. 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms runs in 50 of Michigan’s 83 counties, and the additional funds have allowed new grantees from Metro Detroit and the Upper Peninsula to take part in this program.

You can read more about this program and how it’s benefiting Michigan’s children by visiting this link.

 

Legislative Update

Creating and Keeping Good Jobs for Michigan

This week, we passed bills to create new economic tools and set up grant funding for businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic. These two efforts will help us keep our homegrown businesses and main streets thriving and will help us grow into the 21st century economy. We must make sure Michiganders are not left behind as we move to the next generation of manufacturing and innovation. We will share more details as soon as the grant applications are open for small businesses. I am so proud of our communities for supporting each other and buying local!

Keeping You Informed

You may wish to sign up for committee notices in order to receive the most up-to-date information on bills. By doing so, you will receive notifications as soon as the committee chairs post the next meeting’s date and time, making you among the first to know when committees will be meeting and what legislation is placed on the agenda for debate. For your convenience, the link to the sign-up page is here.

District Programs

Washtenaw County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine & Flu Shot Clinic

The Washtenaw County Health Department hosts a COVID-19 vaccine clinic every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at its offices in Ypsilanti. All three FDA-approved vaccines and boosters are available. Please note that you must now schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine; the clinic is no longer providing walk-ins. If you would like to also receive the flu shot, you can request it at the same time. You can find more information here.

When: Please sign up for a timeslot here. If no times are available, please check back as appointment slots are updated regularly.

Where: Washtenaw County Health Department, 555 Towner St. in Ypsilanti.

If you are in need of ONLY a Flu Shot, you can find vaccination locations by using the Public Influenza Vaccine Providers Tracker here.

 

Upcoming Time with Donna

Come out and join me at my next coffee hour in January. We’ll talk about upcoming legislation and answer any questions you have on topics important to you heading into 2022. We will share the location or Zoom information depending on the status of COVID-19 throughout the coming months.

When: Thursday, Jan. 13, from 7-8 p.m.

Where: TBD

What to Do in HD 52

After School Science Snacks at the Chelsea District Library

Visit the Chelsea District Library next week for a cup of hot cocoa and learn some exciting science facts! Registration required.

When: Monday, Dec. 20, from 4-4:45 p.m.

Where: Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St. in Chelsea

More information can be found here.

Youth & Teens Winter Break Reading Challenge at the Dexter District Library

This winter break, participate in the Youth & Teens Winter Break Beanstack Reading Challenge from Dec. 1-31! Read your favorite books and write responses to them to earn badges to complete the challenge. Registration required.

When: Dec. 1-31

Where: Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. in Dexter

More Information can be found here.

Virtual Trivia Night at the Saline District Library

Join Saline residents for a night of trivia every Wednesday evening. You can play on your computer or mobile device anytime from 5-10 p.m.

When: Wednesday, Dec. 22, from 5-10 p.m.

Where: Virtual – Crowdpurr

More Information can be found here.

Helpful Resources

Where to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Washtenaw County

The Washtenaw County Health Department’s website has a list of the places in Washtenaw County where you can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This list gives the location and any links needed to schedule your vaccine appointment. Find the list here.

 

COVID-19/Coronavirus Resources

You can receive continual updates from the MI Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by clicking here.

Washtenaw Community Mental Health (CMH)

A 24-hour crisis services and mobile crisis team that can assist navigating mental health care services. You can call or text the CARES team at (734) 544-3050.

I Want to Hear from You

During this challenging time, I want to hear from you. What do you need? How can we help you? Please, reach out to me at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov.

Sincerely,

Donna Lasinski

State Representative, House District 52