|
|
Dear Neighbor,
Fall has finally made its way to central Chester County, and there's no better place to be this time of year than Pennsylvania. While summer may be behind us, the Keystone State is just hitting its stride.
From rolling farmland and wooded trails to bustling main streets, local festivals, and beautiful state parks, Pennsylvania has no shortage of ways to enjoy the season. And when it comes to fall foliage, we're especially fortunate. Pennsylvania offers one of the longest and most varied fall foliage seasons in the world, creating stunning scenery across the Commonwealth for weeks on end.
If you're planning a fall adventure, be sure to keep an eye out for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' first Fall Foliage Report of the season, arriving October 1. You can also find seasonal travel ideas, events, and destinations through Visit PA's Fall Guide.
Meanwhile, my team and I have been busy preparing for a full and productive October. The House returns to Harrisburg on Monday as fall session gets underway, Team Otten will be at Downingtown Fall Fest on October 4, and we're looking forward to hosting our Free Paper-Only Shred Event on October 24. We're also continuing our efforts to make sure residents have the information they need well ahead of Election Day, including resources on voter registration, mail ballots, and voting options.
As always, thank you for taking a few moments to catch up on the latest district news, events, and resources. I hope you and your family enjoy everything that makes Pennsylvania's fall season so special.
Chester County Food Bank Panel Discussion
On Wednesday, I was honored to join the Chester County Food Bank as a panelist for their Hunger Action Month Community Food Forum.
Here in Chester County, the wealthiest county in our commonwealth, 49,000 of our neighbors, including 14,000 children, are food insecure. Of those 49,000 people, more than 60% fall into a category known as, “ALICE,” which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are working families who make more than the federal poverty level and too much to qualify for state or federal benefits, but not enough to cover basic necessities like housing, food, medicine, and utility bills.
The Chester County Food Bank and its partner food pantries do a tremendous job of stepping into that gap, but as the cost of living continues to rise, funding from the federal government is being cut, making it more difficult for food banks to meet growing demand, for farmers to make ends meet, for states and counties to administer food assistance programs, and for families to access nutritious food.
On Wednesday’s panel, we discussed federal policy changes, including changes to SNAP eligibility and the devastating cancelation of $13 million in USDA funding that would have gone to farmers across Pennsylvania to supply food banks with fresh, local, nutritious food. We talked about what can be done at the state and local level to help ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. For the past four years, our state budget has included funding for universal free school breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania students, regardless of income. The program accounts for just 1% of our overall budget and takes a burden off families with school-age children while ensuring that students start the school day with food in their stomachs.
We need to do the same for universal school lunches. Bills proposed in the House and Senate would provide school lunches to all students who are not already covered through the federal free and reduced-price-meal program. These proposals would not only alleviate the burden on families and ensure that no child goes hungry during the school day; they would also alleviate a burden on our food banks and help to drive grocery prices down for all of us by moving the purchasing power for millions of meals each day out of the retail market and into the wholesale market.
While the hunger crisis is growing, we ended the program on a positive note, with each panelist sharing what gives us hope in this moment. My fellow panelists pointed to support from community members, local businesses, and the great work of the Chester County Food Bank staff and volunteers as reasons to be optimistic. For me, it’s also the recognition that in every crisis moment there is opportunity.
For the past four years, the General Assembly has funded universal school breakfasts with solid bipartisan support. The model works, and the benefits are proven. I am hopeful that we can find the political will in this moment to do the same for universal school lunches.
I am grateful to the Food Bank for including me on the panel this week and to all the community partners who came out to support the work of the Chester County Food Bank and its volunteers. |
|
|
Important Election Dates and Deadlines November 3 is Election Day. Make sure your registration is up to date and your ballot is returned on time!
|
|
|
Election Resources
For accurate and up-to-date information, rely on your county election office or vote.pa.gov, the official website of the Pennsylvania Department of State. |
|
|
|
Please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue. |
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
FREE Paper-Only Shred Event
Join Team Otten for a FREE Paper-Only Shred Event!
Bring your confidential documents to be destroyed! Each car will be limited to 4 file-size boxes. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, or cardboard (plan to take your boxes home with you).
The shredding event will take place in the parking lot of the North Brandywine Middle School, 256 Reeceville Rd, Coatesville, PA.
This event is first-come, first-served. When the truck is full, the event will end. All shredded paper will be recycled!
If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s district office at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net . |
|
|
|
|
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. The Department of Revenue began sending rebates on July 1, so submit your application now to get your rebate as soon as possible!
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office. |
|
|
|
|
SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly. |
|
|
|
|
2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information. |
|
|
|
|
Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help. |
|
|
|
|
My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you!
For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help.
|
|
|
|
District Office 631 North Pottstown Pike |
|
Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing PO Box 202155 (717) 783-5009 |
|
|
