Letter to the editor: Pennsylvanians need covid relief

Regarding the article “A bleak outlook for millions facing cutoff of jobless aid”: Enough is enough — millions of families continue to struggle to put food on the table and pay their rent.

With the covid-19 virus surging again, Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey must pass a robust covid-19 relief package that meets the needs of Pennsylvanians.

New research shows why: More than four in 10 children live in households that are struggling to cover such basic costs as food, rent or mortgage, car payments, medical expenses, or student loans, according to the latest Census data.

But if millions of people facing hunger, eviction or layoffs isn’t enough to convince federal policymakers to deliver a comprehensive relief package, they should consider that the best way to boost the economy is to help those who struggle to make ends meet. That’s because when they get help through unemployment benefits or SNAP, they spend it quickly to meet their needs, thus boosting the economy.

I am counting on Toomey and Casey to fight to get Pennsylvanians the relief we deserve.

Dana Dolney

South Side

The writer is a grassroots organizer for Just Harvest.