How Centre County community members are coming together to help those financially impacted by COVID-19
When Mel Meder’s job was disrupted by Gov. Tom Wolf’s Monday order for nonessential businesses to close, she sent out a call on Facebook, forming Centre County COVID-19 Community Response, a group working to support those who are impacted financially by the coronavirus.
Meder, a State College native and massage therapist, said she has support from her family and will be able to find other work, but added that those options aren’t available to everyone.
“Every one of us is at risk during this pandemic, especially people who are already struggling,” Meder said. “We are coming together to support each other and to urge lawmakers to help everyday people survive this crisis.”
On Sunday, more than 52 community members convened on a Zoom call to discuss ways to help Centre County residents and Penn State students who have been impacted by the virus, Meder said. During the virtual meeting, 4CR formed working groups responsible for conducting community outreach and forming a resource hub. The group presented a letter to the State College Borough Council on Monday with a series of questions and concerns.
“While we’re still figuring out the course of action ahead, two things are clear from our initial phone calls,” Meder said. “First, there is a lot of concern about how the coronavirus and its economic impacts will affect low-wage workers and their families, elderly folks, immunocompromised people, displaced students and other at-risk groups. And second, there are a lot of people in the community who are eager to support their neighbors. We are all in this together.”
A statewide petition for Pennsylvania residents to sign was also released Wednesday morning to underscore the coalition’s demands.
“Now is the time to unite across our differences and demand policy choices that help everyday people — not just the richest 1% and a handful of corporations,” Bailey Campbell, a 4CR member, said. “Together, we are demanding that our local, state and national governments do everything possible to protect everyone’s physical and financial health; no exceptions.”
4CR is one of more than 50 groups, elected officials, labor unions and community organizations that sent a letter to Wolf and the state General Assembly on Thursday, demanding immediate action to contain the spread of the virus and alleviate the health and financial burden that working families face from having to shutter their doors.
The letter asks Wolf and the legislature to expand health care, provide economic relief for working families and protect vulnerable populations.
“The choices our government makes now to help us weather the outbreak of this virus can also set a better course for the future of our communities,” the letter reads. “Now is the time for us to unite across our differences and make policy choices that help everyday people in pursuit of a safe and thriving nation.”
