A message from Commissioner McCosh: Work continues through reopening

A weekly message from Commissioner McCosh in support of the local disability community.

Dear Disability Community Members,

We have been at this for a while, haven’t we? It feels like the season has finally changed and we are heading into a new month in just a few days. I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your resilience and continued dedication to wearing masks and staying six feet apart from others when you leave the house.

As we wrap up our third month of full-time COVID efforts, I thought it might be nice to share some of the incredible work that has been done over the last few months. If you are anything like me you have spent time most days looking at case numbers so I won’t share those. Instead, I wanted to share these numbers with you.

Since the start of the pandemic in Boston:

More than one million free meals have been served to youth through 68 meal sites across the City
More than 60,000 free meals have been served to adults since late April
More than 5,600 door-to-door grocery deliveries have been delivered to our most vulnerable residents
The Boston Resiliency Fund has given $9.4 million dollars to provide Boston's children, families, and seniors with access to food and other basic needs
The Boston Resiliency Fund has provided $7 million dollars to expand the capacity of healthcare systems that serve vulnerable populations and those who have complex needs, and provide childcare, food, and other supports for healthcare and front-line workers

While the pandemic is far from over, we have accomplished so much and will continue to work hard to ensure that people with disabilities remain a top priority as we move forward.

Please reach out to us if you need assistance. You can dial 311 to reach City Hall, or call us at 617-635-3682. Our email is disability@boston.gov, and the latest updates are available at www.boston.gov.

Until next week, please stay informed, stay home, and stay healthy.

Sincerely,