Working Together to Strengthen Our Schools and Community

Rep. Melissa Cerrato August 21, 2026

Dear Friends,

One of the most important parts of serving as your State Representative is hearing directly from the people who know our community best.

Whether I am sitting down with school leaders, meeting with organizations helping families through difficult times, or talking with a local business that wants to give back, those conversations help me better understand what is happening here at home and how I can be a stronger partner in Harrisburg.

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with people working in many different areas of our community, but I keep coming back to the same thought: We accomplish so much more when we work together.

From supporting our students and educators, to fighting hunger, to connecting local businesses with schools and nonprofits, partnership is what turns good intentions into meaningful results.

Listening and Learning at North Penn

Every year, my colleagues and I have the opportunity to meet with leaders from the North Penn School District to hear directly about the state of the district, how North Penn has grown and changed in recent years, and the successes and challenges facing our students, educators, and families.

I always value these conversations because the decisions we make at the state level have a very real impact in our classrooms.

Numbers on a budget spreadsheet ultimately translate into teachers, counselors, special education services, transportation, school safety improvements, classroom resources, and opportunities for our children. Hearing directly from the people leading our schools helps put those decisions into perspective and gives us a clearer understanding of where additional support may be needed.

This year, we also had the opportunity to tour some of the renovations underway throughout the high school to create safer, more modern learning environments for students.

Seeing those improvements firsthand was exciting, but it also reinforced how important it is that we continue investing in the spaces where our children spend so much of their time.

Our schools have changed tremendously over the years. Technology has changed. Security needs have changed. Educational programs have evolved. Buildings that have served generations of students need to be updated so they can continue serving the next generation.

That takes careful planning, significant resources, and strong cooperation between local and state leaders.

Having these conversations directly with North Penn gives my colleagues and me a better understanding of both the progress being made and the challenges that remain. It also gives us an opportunity to discuss how we can continue working together to support students, educators, staff, and taxpayers.

I am incredibly grateful for the strong partnership we have with North Penn and for the educators, administrators, support staff, families, school board members, and community members who work every day to help our students succeed.

Our children deserve safe schools, excellent educators, strong academic opportunities, and the resources they need to reach their full potential. I look forward to continuing this collaboration and making sure our schools have the support they need to give every student the opportunity to thrive.

Working Together to Fight Hunger

I also recently had the opportunity to meet with the incredible team from the Montgomery County Anti-Hunger Network, and I left our conversation inspired by the work they do every single day.

When we talk about hunger, we often think first about food pantries and meal distributions. Those services are incredibly important, but there is also an enormous amount of coordination and collaboration happening behind the scenes to make sure help reaches the people who need it.

The Montgomery County Anti-Hunger Network brings together more than 77 food banks, food pantries, and free meal providers across Montgomery County, including several organizations serving families right here in our community.

Their work goes far beyond providing meals.

The Network helps organizations communicate and collaborate, connects providers with resources and information, supports innovative approaches to fighting hunger, and helps ensure that organizations throughout Montgomery County have the tools they need to make the greatest possible impact.

That coordination is incredibly important because food insecurity does not always look the way we expect.

It may be a senior stretching a fixed income and trying to choose between groceries, medication, and utilities. It may be a parent whose paycheck simply does not go far enough after paying for housing, childcare, transportation, and other necessities. It may be a family that was doing fine until an unexpected illness, job loss, or emergency suddenly changed everything.

These are our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members.

I was especially grateful to learn more about the data the Network collects on food insecurity, and the challenges Montgomery County families are facing.

Good public policy begins with understanding what people are actually experiencing.

When we have reliable information about where needs are increasing, which populations are being affected, and what barriers families are encountering, we can make better decisions about where resources are needed and how state government can support the organizations already doing this work successfully.

These conversations are invaluable to me as a legislator. I can advocate for programs, funding, and legislation in Harrisburg, but the people working directly with families every day often have the clearest picture of what is working and where our systems are falling short.

That relationship between state government and our community partners matters.

I have tremendous admiration for the dedication, compassion, and collaboration the Montgomery County Anti-Hunger Network and its partners bring to this work, and I look forward to continuing to work together to support families throughout our community.

Local Businesses Giving Back

Another recent conversation reminded me that strengthening our community can happen in many different ways.

Nicole, the Event Coordinator at Redstone American Grill at the Promenade in Upper Dublin, stopped by my district office to talk about ways Redstone can partner with local schools and nonprofit organizations to host fundraisers and events that give back to our community.

I always love hearing from local businesses that are looking beyond simply doing business in our area and asking how they can become an even greater part of the community they serve.

Our schools, parent organizations, youth programs, community groups, and nonprofits are constantly working to raise funds and resources for programs that benefit our neighbors.

At the same time, our local restaurants and businesses want opportunities to connect with and support the people who support them.

Bringing those groups together can create partnerships where everyone benefits.

A fundraiser at a local restaurant may seem small compared with some of the larger issues we address in Harrisburg, but those dollars can purchase classroom supplies, support an extracurricular program, help fund a nonprofit initiative, assist a family in need, or allow a community organization to reach even more people.

Those partnerships also create something that is harder to measure but just as important: stronger connections within our community.

I am grateful to Nicole for reaching out, for taking the time to visit my office, and for her enthusiasm about finding meaningful ways Redstone can give back.

I am excited to see where those conversations lead and hope that we can continue connecting more businesses, schools, and organizations throughout our community.

The Common Thread: Partnership

A meeting with school administrators, a conversation about food insecurity, and a visit from a local restaurant may not seem connected at first.

But to me, they tell the same story.

Government cannot solve every problem alone. Neither can our schools, nonprofits, businesses, or individual volunteers.

But when we listen to one another, share information, combine resources, and bring people with different experiences and strengths to the same table, we can accomplish incredible things.

That is one of the reasons I value these meetings so much.

I want my district office to be more than a place people call when they need help navigating state government, although helping constituents will always be one of our most important responsibilities.

I also want it to be a place where ideas are shared, relationships are built, and connections are made.

Whether we are talking about strengthening our schools, combating hunger, supporting a local nonprofit, helping seniors remain in their homes, supporting families, or addressing any of the other challenges facing our neighbors, I believe our greatest progress happens when we work together.

As always, thank you for allowing me the privilege of representing you.

I will continue listening, learning, advocating, and bringing people together while making sure the voices and experiences of our community are heard in Harrisburg.

There is always more work to do, but I continue to be encouraged by the incredible people throughout our district and Montgomery County who show up every day, determined to make our community a little stronger and life a little better for someone else.

I am grateful to be able to work alongside them.

Upcoming Events

Join us for our upcoming Veterans Expo!

Rep. Nancy Guenst, Rep. Brian Munroe, and I are proud to invite local veterans and their families to a Veterans Expo!

This event is a great opportunity to connect directly with VA representatives, learn more about available support and resources, and get answers to questions about benefits and services. We will also be providing a free lunch at noon.

Registration is required. Please call 215-323-6997 to register by phone.

Our veterans have given so much in service to our country, and we are honored to help connect them with the resources, information, and support they deserve. We hope you will join us and help spread the word to the veterans in your life.

Join us for College Prep Night ??

Senator Maria Collett, Rep. Nancy Guenst, and I are excited to invite students and families to an upcoming College Prep Night.

Planning for college can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to figure it out alone. This event will share helpful information on the PA 529 Plan, financial aid, scholarships, FAFSA applications and deadlines, and finding the right fit for you.

Whether your student is just starting to think about college or getting ready to apply, this is a great opportunity to ask questions, learn about available resources, and feel more prepared for the road ahead.

Registration is encouraged. Please call Rep. Guenst’s office at 215-259-5962 or use the QR code on the flyer to register.

We hope to see you there!

?? It's time to clear out the clutter and protect your personal information!

Join State Senator Maria Collett and me for our Community Shredding Event on Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until the trucks are full).

?? Rose Twig Park at Windlestrae

1151 Kenas Rd.

North Wales, PA

Bring your old documents for safe, secure shredding. Please limit shredding items to three paper bags or small boxes per vehicle.

?? While you're there, consider helping a neighbor by bringing a nonperishable food donation to support our local food banks.

Please note that electronics cannot be accepted at this event.

We look forward to seeing you there and helping you safely dispose of sensitive documents while giving back to our community!