CONSENT CALENDAR
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, beginning in 2020, the City of Chicago faced an unprecedented crisis in the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the suspension of many normal civil services, in conjunction with the requirements ofthe pandemic, created an urgent need for creative new support service networks; and,
WHEREAS, the neighbors of the 40th Ward, located on Chicago's North Side, organized rapidly and effectively through the Ward office to create a volunteer-driven 40th Ward Neighbor Network providing support and aid to residents during the pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, the Neighbor Network was active within the first weeks of pandemic response, and was actively taking and responding to requests for mutual aid and neighbor support as early as the third, week of March, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, the Neighbor Network provided over the course of the pandemic, and continues to provide today, innumerable services to the local community, including but in no way limited to:
The creation of a "Sewing Guard" of home crafters who rapidly produced reusable cloth face masks for neighbors in need;
The organized distribution of over 20,000 face masks, both reusable and disposable, as well as hundreds of bottles of hand sanitizer, to homebound individuals, populations in managed care, schools, and other local institutions;
Wellness calls and checks on seniors and homebound residents, with followup services including grocery delivery, rides to and from care, assistance coordinating prescription medication drop-off, delivery, or pickup under social distancing mandates, and many other contributions of individual importance and urgency;
A winter "Shoveling Squad" that provided snow clearing services for individuals unable to safely clear their properties;
Socially-distanced flyering, door-hanger distribution, and other outreach to individuals unable to access Ward updates and announcements via digital means during the closure of City offices;
Volunteer organization, turnout, and support for a Ward-run vaccination event that provided both doses ofthe COVID-19 vaccine to over 1300 residents;
Remote phone, email, and other constituent services communication and assistance for individuals contacting the Ward office throughout the course of the pandemic; and
CONSENT CALENDAR
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago, Alderman Andre Vasquez, the 40th Ward office, and the residents of our community are indebted to the volunteers who gave countless hours to the Neighbor Network, and who continue to self-organize, grow, and support the Neighbor Network in its ongoing efforts; and
WHEREAS, with our communities in need of strong mutual aid networks during ongoing vaccination efforts and in the face ofthe ever-present risk of future pandemics, now therefore:
Andre Vasquez, Jr. Alderman, 40th Ward
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled here on this 26th day of May, 2021, do applaud, honor, and commend the volunteers who contributed their time and effort to the 40th Ward Neighbor Network, and wish them well and encourage them in the Neighbor Network's continuing services.
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