«As a proud resident of Tacoma for all 51 years of my life and a certified nursing assistant at Avamere Pacific Ridge — a local nursing home — I see every day the devastating threats of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud to work on the frontlines serving our community and I’ve sacrificed a lot to do so. Twice I’ve contracted COVID on the job, and I now struggle with heart problems and weakness. Taking care of my residents is harder than ever.
Legislative leaders in Olympia can help by immediately extending emergency relief funding scheduled to end December 31. This emergency funding helps pay workers dedicated to difficult jobs and purchase increasingly expensive PPE and food during the supply disruptions of the pandemic.
This crisis is not over. I urge our state leaders to extend the local emergency relief provided by the federal government. Our long-term care community needs this support.»