I am getting ready for the upcoming legislative session in January, and I want to hear your thoughts and ideas about the issues we’ll be facing during that 90 days. There’s a few upcoming opportunities for you to make your voice heard:
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I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
I’d like you to know about our Holiday “Laptops for Foster Youth Drive”, which has become even more important with the alarming increase in the number of foster youth in Alaska, from less than 1,800 five years ago to over 2,800 today. The following press release lets you know about many ways you can help, from donating a laptop, to becoming: a foster youth mentor through a program we started at Big Brothers Big Sisters; a foster parent; or an adoptive parent for a foster youth.
ANCHORAGE – Five years ago Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Amanda Metivier, Executive Director of Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA), sat down to try to figure out how to make the lives of Alaska’s foster youth better without waiting on legislative action. As a result, they started a volunteer effort called “Laptops for Foster Youth.” This week they are launching a “Holiday Drive” seeking donated laptop computers. New or donated laptops can be especially useful for foster youth because they often move frequently on short notice.
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After an ‘extra-helping’ of a special session, I’m glad to be back home in Fairbanks, where there is no shortage of things to do. Over the next few weeks,Governor Bill Walker will unveil his budget details, portions of a fiscal plan and set the tone for the next legislative session that begins in January. The Finance Committee, of which I am a member, will be focused on the fiscal gap and a fiscal solution. It won’t be easy, but it will be necessary.
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I hope this Thanksgiving season finds you and your families well. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some ways we all can help the less fortunate by donating food, warm clothing, and other items this Thanksgiving. Please take a moment to learn about some of the needs that have come to my attention, and about ways we can provide assistance.
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