Lansing Community Celebrates “Christmas in July” as Neighbors Step Up Where Rep. Tom Barrett Won’t

Michigan Families for Fair Care and community partners hosted the “Good Trouble, Great Neighbors: Christmas in July” Drive on Friday, collecting over $3,000 worth of new and gently used toys, school supplies, non-perishable food, and hygiene essentials for neighbors across Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. Volunteers gathered to help families struggling to cover the basics this summer, with all donations going directly to Punks With Lunch Lansing and local families and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, who handed out toys to children throughout the event.

“We wanted the kids and parents in our community to feel a little hope during this chaotic, and expensive summer. Right now, many families in this state are going without basic necessities like food, air conditioning, and even clean air.” said Cynthia, attendee, and MI-07 constituent. “No one deserves to feel like there isn’t enough to go around, despite working endlessly, but unfortunately that’s where a lot of people are at now these days. We wish our Congressman, Tom Barrett, would see how deeply his votes have damaged the most vulnerable among us. Rep. Barrett, we urge you to restore funding to programs that keep our children fed, keep our people healthy, and lower the price of groceries that everyone needs to survive.” ​

The drive comes as MI-07 families feel the fallout of Congressman Tom Barrett’s votes at the grocery store. Barrett voted for the Republican Tax Law that enacted the largest cuts to SNAP in the program’s history and supported tariffs that drive up the cost of groceries and everyday essentials. More than 10% of Michigan SNAP recipients have lost food assistance in the last 10 months, and local food banks report growing demand, leaving Lansing-area families to shoulder the burden while their representative backs the policies driving up their bills.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND HERE 

Michigan Families for Fair Care is calling on Congressman Barrett to undo the damage from the Republican Tax Law, restore SNAP funding, end these tariffs that are gouging family budgets, and put families ahead of tax breaks for the wealthy. No family in MI-07 should have to wonder how they’ll feed their kids over summer break or provide them with the supplies they need to learn and thrive in school. Congressman Barrett, restore the food assistance your constituents depend on and start fighting to lower costs for the people you represent.