With the legislative session just two weeks behind us, my team and I have not slowed down one bit. From Earth Day cleanups, BLM events, and grand openings to sending out over a thousand end of Session letters, we have had a very busy interim so far.
For those who have reached out to the office over the last 90 days, start checking your mailboxes for my official end of Session or “Sine Die” letter, which recaps all the work my colleagues and I accomplished during the 2021 Session.
Summer of Giving
Throughout this summer, we will be hosting a drive that will directly support various charitable organizations throughout our community. The “Delegate Jones’ Summer of Giving” kicks off today with a period supplies dive in honor of Period Poverty week (May 24 to 30). Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints. These essential products can be incredibly expensive are not covered under other welfare programs. No person should be held back due to a lack of access to essential products.
If you would like to make a donation, you can go to our Amazon wish list and make a purchase (make sure to choose the "Delegate Dana Jones' Gift Registry Address" at checkout). All donations will be distributed through the Tyler Heights Pop-Up pantry. Please contact our office with any questions at dana.jones@house.state.md.us or at 410-841-3211. Thank you in advance for helping make the difference for so many in our community!
Celebrating Earth Day
To celebrate Earthday, Senator Sarah Elfreth & I joined Arundel Rivers Federation in a cleanup to a tributary of Aberdeen Creek. We removed over 50 bags (3 truckloads!) of glass, plastic & trash. Stay tuned to this newsletter & my social media for more opportunities to come out to cleanups in the coming months!
GreenScape Annapolis
One of the many things that COVID has taught us is the importance of having green spaces in our community where we can connect with nature and enjoy all that the Great Outdoors has to offer. This year Annapolis GreenScape 2021 had over 70 green scaping projects around Annapolis! I enjoyed spending time & bringing Carlson's Donuts to the volunteers throughout the city, including to those at St. Luke's Restoration of Nature, Chambers Park, Eastport Veterans Park, Pip Moyer Recreation Center at Truxtun Park, and more! I am so thankful to all of those who volunteered their time to help make our City even more beautiful!
A Grand Re-Opening
I was thrilled to attend the ribbon cutting at the Annapolis Maritime Museum for the grand reopening of their amazing new interactive exhibit! Our Changing Waterfront, allows visitors to the Museum to experience the Bay and our local history through interactive and immersive exhibit displays, including a virtual reality display.
The Museum will now be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. You can pre-purchase your tickets today by going to - bit.ly/3uDuE4O.
Restaurant Grant Funding Opportunity
As part of the American Rescue Plan, the Small Businesses Administration (SBA) has launched a new grant program for restaurants. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business. Recipients are not required to repay the funds as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023. To learn more about this grant opportunity, click here!
COVID-19 Vaccinations - Navy Stadium Mass Vax Site
Annapolis now has a State Mass vaccination site. The Navy Stadium is now open for both vaccination appointments AND walk-ins. Each day the site accepts a minimum of 200 “walk-in” appointments, beginning at 9 AM. In partnership with the city of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County is providing FREE transportation to and from this vaccination site. To learn more about how to get vaccinated at the Navy Stadium, click here!
For more tips on how to register for a vaccination appointment, you can click here!
Additionally, you can use the State of Maryland Vaccination Site Search Tool to search for all vaccination locations within the state. Find out how to get alerted when appointments become available here!
COVID-19 Tests
Anne Arundel County offers testing at no cost. Symptoms are not required for testing, and a doctor’s note is not needed. Test results are usually available in three to five days. You can call the Anne Arundel county COVID-19 Health Information Line: 410-222-7256 with all of your COVID-19 related questions.
COVID-19 Resources
My full breakdown of resources - everything from eviction prevention to utility assistance, is available here. If you or someone you know needs help navigating any state resources, you can always reach out to my office. My Chief of Staff, Lydia McPherson, or I can assist you.
Body Cameras Town Hall
This Tuesday, May 4th, at 6:00 pm, join county executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel County Police Department for a Body Worn Camera Town Hall. This event will include a presentation on the police departments’ Body Worn Camera Program and a Q&A to give community members a chance to ask questions. Submit your questions in advance to pittmantownhall@aacounty.org and register now at http://bit.ly/bodyworncameratownhall to join live.
Love Our Libraries
2021 is the Anne Arundel County Public Library's 100th anniversary! Our library offers a wide variety of programming and resources. In honor of their centennial celebration, each week, I will be highlighting one program, resource, or event that our libraries have to offer.
Do you have too much stuff? Is your home overrun with clutter? Then join AACPL this Tuesday, May 4th, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm for Purge to Clear Out! (Part 1) to learn how you can get organized. Pre-Register for the event here!
The Maryland Department of Aging needs your help! Their Durable Medical Equipment Reuse (DRE) Program is in urgent need of wheelchairs to assist with COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
Donations are accepted at 11701 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, MD 20623 Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm. Each donation will be sanitized, repaired, and provided to an individual in need. Click here to learn more! For questions, email DME.MDOA@maryland.gov or call 240-230-8000.
Volunteers Needed
Maryland Hall is in need of additional volunteers to help with the installation of the Patrick Dougherty Nature Installation. Volunteers are needed daily from Tuesday, May 4 through Saturday, May 8 for two shifts: 8 am - 12 pm & 1-5 pm. Sign up online as an individual for a shift here or contact Reilly Kelbaugh at rkelbaugh@marylandhall.org if you represent a group who'd like to volunteer together. Please share and recruit a friend!
A New Normal
"Thank you, Madame Speaker and Madame Vice President…” Last night as President Biden prepared to address a joint session of Congress and the nation, President Biden first acknowledged a historical moment sitting behind him. Historically, the Vice President and the Speaker of the House share the dais directly behind the President during joint addresses to Congress. For the first time in American history, the top lines of succession were women.
I am so thankful for all the women who have dedicated their lives to helping to elect women to office. Watching that historical moment with my family is one I will never forget!
You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, COVID-19 updates, and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact my office by email at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.
Stay safe and healthy,
Delegate Dana JonesDistrict 30A, Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
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