Dec. 13 e-mail: Thank you for supporting our community

Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara December 13, 2024

PA Representative Jennifer O'Mara's banner image

Dear Neighbor,

As we celebrate this season of joy and togetherness, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. May your holidays be filled with peace, happiness and cherished moments.

I hope everyone stays safe and enjoys the holiday season! One thing that always warms my heart this time of year is the immense support my office consistently receives in our annual Toys for Tots drives. This year we held two, and we received an overwhelming amount of donations that will benefit so many local kids. Thanks to your support, countless families in need will be able to provide their children with a present this holiday season. I sincerely thank everyone who donated – every single one of you made a difference.

Diaper Drive

We are collecting donations for families in need! From now until December 17th, my office is accepting unused packages of diapers, baby wipes, and baby formula to support local families and make sure every little one has what they need this holiday season.

If you’re able to contribute, drop off your donations at my office in Media -- every little bit helps!

Springfield Mobile Office Hours

My office now has mobile office hours at the Springfield Library every Tuesday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Stop by the top floor to visit a member of my staff in the adult section quiet room. They can assist with state services and answer questions you may have. Please note that mobile office hours will not be held on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.

Take the chill out of high winter energy bills with financial assistance

Looking for assistance to help you manage your energy bills, especially during the cold winter months? LIHEAP applications are open! Income guidelines are detailed below, and if you’re eligible, funds will be sent directly to your utility provider.

Apply now at peco.com/liheap.

Supporting Morton-Rutledge Fire Company

I'm proud to announce that Rep. Dave Delloso and I secured a grant of $150,000 for Morton-Rutledge Fire Company from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development! This funding will replace their failing concrete apron and upgrade essential hoses, ensuring our firefighters have the resources they need to protect our community. Read the full announcement here.

Provide your feedback on the new SEPTA app

While it’s currently in beta testing, SEPTA introduced a new mobile app to better assist riders. You’re invited to participate in the final development by testing the app and providing feedback. While in the beta phase, improvements and updates will be made to the app based on feedback from riders before the app is officially released.

Full instructions on how to download the beta version of the app are available at https://wwww.septa.org/app/.

Please note that the current SEPTA app and the new beta version cannot be active on the same phone at the same time.

Scam Jam recap

Thank you to everyone who came to Sen. Tim Kearney and my Scam Jam event last Friday! We heard from fantastic presenters, including the PA Department of Banking & Securities, the Delaware County DA's office, Springfield PD, and the PA Attorney General's office. If you weren't able to make it but want to learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams, you can click this link to view all the helpful information shared.

January Blood Drive

Did you know that every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood? By donating blood, you can save lives and make a real difference in your community. Whether it’s for patients undergoing surgery, accident victims, or those battling serious illnesses, your donation is critical.

My office has teamed up with Red Cross to host a blood drive at Morton Borough hall on Friday, January 24th from noon to 5 pm. Appointments can be made by visiting https://www.redcrossblood.org/ using code RepJenniferOMara.

Springfield tree lighting ?? ??

Katherine and I braved the cold to stop by the Springfield Fire Company to support their annual tree lighting as well as their collection for Springfield Fire Company member Sgt. James Jardine's unit, who were deployed to Africa with the Pennsylvania National Guard for nine months. It was a nice, festive evening supporting a great cause!

REAL ID service hours in Media next week

PennDOT will hold special REAL ID service hours at the Grant Run Driver License Center from 10 am to 2 pm on Monday, December 16th. If you’ve been considering getting a REAL ID, this is a good opportunity to do so. As a reminder, by May 7th, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID to board domestic commercial flights, enter a military base, and enter certain federal facilities.

If you plan on going, don’t forget to bring along the following documents:

?Proof of identity

?Proof of Social Security number

?Two proofs of current, physical PA address

?Proof of all legal name changes (if applicable)

If you're not sure whether a REAL ID is right for you, our REAL ID online wizard may be able to help.

Pennie open enrollment

Pennie is Pennsylvania’s one-stop shop to search for quality health care plans at the lowest cost. Enroll today to have your health care plan for 2025 at https://pennie.com/. The deadline to enroll is January 15th. However, if you want your health coverage to begin on January 1st, enroll by December 15th. Pennie offers free online customer assistance if you have any questions or call 1-844-844-4440.

New military license plates available

PennDOT recently announced six new military-themed license plates are available. Three of the new plates recognize service members who received medals or honors for individual achievements or deployments. The other three recognize women veterans.

For more info and how to apply for one of these or any other specialized plate, click here.