Dear Neighbor,
I hope you have had a good start to your August! As the summer winds down, we’re excited to bring you the latest updates, resources, events, and tips to help you make the most of the season.
Featured in This Newsletter:
- Rx Kids: A Prescription for Improving Families’ Physical and Economic Health
- Meals on Wheels
- The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture Encourages Michiganders to Protect Their Pets Against Diseases Carried by Other Animals and Insects
- Air Quality Index
- Warren Family Safety Day is August 16
- Saturday is National Thrift Shop Day
As always, it is an honor to represent you. If you would like any assistance with state-based issues, please feel free to reach out! You can email me at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov, call (517) 373-8360 or find more information on my Website
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Rx Kids: A Prescription for Improving Families’ Physical and Economic Health
Rx Kids is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States, initially launched in Flint in 2024, before expanding to seven other communities across the state in early 2025. Now, we’re working to pass legislation to expand this successful program statewide to reach more families around Michigan. Rx Kids supports parents and babies by providing all pregnant moms, regardless of income, with a no-strings-attached cash allowance of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month throughout the baby’s first year. Research shows that this direct, cash support for new parents helps improve housing security, access to nutritious food, and maternal and child health.
In addition to our proposal to expand Rx Kids, Michigan Senate Democrats have introduced bold, transformative legislation to lower costs for working families and make sure kids in Michigan have the best start possible — including through a Working Parents Tax Cut and expanded access to child care. Learn more about this “Building Blocks” package here.
Meals on Wheels
Senior citizens are a vital part of our community. After a lifetime of hard work, many continue to give back to our communities and serve as the backbone of our neighborhoods, while others need help. Some seniors live on fixed incomes and struggle to pay for nutritious food due to expensive prescription drug costs, rising utility rates, increased rent, and more. Meals on Wheels can help.
This program helps senior citizens eat nutritiously by providing five meals per week to homebound, older adults. They also offer liquid nutrition for those who are unable to eat solid food and who have a prescription from their physician.
Each menu is planned and prepared under the supervision of a registered dietician to ensure each meal provides one-third of the current Recommended Dietary Allowance. Each meal will contain the following food groups: protein (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese), vegetables, fruit, starch (rice, potatoes, noodles, dressing, etc.), bread, and milk.
To see if you are eligible for Meals on Wheels, please review the requirements for your county or city below. Links and numbers to apply are also provided beneath. Eligibility for this program is not based on income.
To qualify for Meals on Wheels in Macomb County, an adult must be:
- At least 60 years of age or be the spouse of a person at least 60 years of age;
- A Macomb County resident;
- Home-bound (unable to leave their home without assistance); and
- Physically or emotionally unable to obtain food or prepare full meals.
A $3.50 donation is suggested for each meal. All donations go directly back into the program to help provide meals. The menu for the month can be found here. If interested in applying for this program, please call the Office of Senior Services at (586) 469-5228.
Additionally, Meals on Wheels Macomb County is looking for volunteers, if interested (586) 469-5228.
To Qualify for Meals on Wheels in Wayne County, an individual must be:
- Age 60 years or older;
- Homebound – unable to leave their house unassisted; and
- Must be home to receive the meal delivery.
A $3.00 donation is suggested per meal. All donations go directly back to the program to help provide meals. The menu for the month can be found here.
If interested in applying to this program, please call Wayne County Senior Services at (734) 326-5202 or apply online here.
Additionally, Meals on Wheels Wayne is looking for volunteers, if interested (734) 326-5202.
To Qualify for Meals on Wheels in Detroit, an individual must be:
- 60 years of age or older;
- Homebound and unable to leave the home without assistance;
- Unable to prepare meals by themself;
- Unable to participate in the Congregate Meal Program;
- Able to feed themself; and
- No caregiver available or willing to prepare meals on a regular basis.
A $2.75 donation is suggested per meal. All donations go directly back to the program to help provide meals. There is no menu for the month available online.
If interested in applying to this program, please contact the Detroit Area Agency on Aging at (313) 446-4444.
The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture Encourages Michiganders to Protect Their Pets Against Diseases Carried by Other Animals and Insects
The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture encourages Michiganders to protect their pets against diseases carried by other animals and insects by talking to their veterinarian about vaccinations for their pets and livestock. Below, I have listed potential vaccinations you may want to consider for your furry friends.
- Rabies Vaccines – The rabies vaccine is important for dogs, cats, ferrets, horses, and other animals. In fact, Michigan law requires dogs and ferrets to be vaccinated against this disease. Rabies is often fatal and carried by certain wildlife species in Michigan. Last year, there were 48 cases of rabies detected in bats here in Michigan. Highly safe and effective vaccines are available to protect animals against this virus.
- Core Vaccines for Dogs and Cats – There are other important vaccinations available for dogs and cats to help protect them from diseases common to their species. Dogs can be vaccinated against serious diseases such as parvovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. Like rabies, leptospirosis can affect both animals and people, and it is carried by some of Michigan’s native wildlife. In 2024, 54 cases of leptospirosis were reported in dogs. Of these cases, only five animals were vaccinated, and 17 died or were humanely euthanized due to the severity of their illness. For cats, key vaccines include those for feline leukemia, panleukopenia, herpes virus, and calicivirus.
- Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 for Rabbits – Domestic rabbits can now be vaccinated against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2), an extremely contagious and fatal virus that affects only rabbits and hares. Even though RHDV2 has not been detected in the state of Michigan, cases of the virus have been found in other U.S. states and in four Canadian provinces. In 2021, a U.S.-based vaccine was developed for RHDV2, which is a vital tool for protecting Michigan’s domestic rabbits and keeping the disease out of the state.
- Vaccinations for Mosquito-Borne Illnesses are Vital for Horses – Vaccinations are also vital to protecting the health of horses, especially from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV), eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and western equine encephalitis. WNV and EEE are regularly seen in Michigan, and EEE is particularly fatal. In 2024, eight cases of WNV and 13 cases of EEE in horses were discovered. For a majority of these detections, the animals were either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, and many of the horses died or were euthanized due to the severity their illness. Horses can also be vaccinated against tetanus.
To learn more, please click here.
Air Quality Index
With the recent Canadian wildfires effecting air quality, it is important to check the air quality before spending time outdoors. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a color-coded way for residents to see what the levels of some types of air pollution are in their area. The higher the AQI, the worse the air quality is and the more cause for concern. Due to the recent fires in northern Michigan and Canada the past couple weeks, the AQI for particulate matter is high in many parts of the state and the eastern United States. The EPA’s Smoke and Fire map can be helpful in locating fires near you and seeing how smoke is moving.
The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services has also advised:
- For people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens, it is suggested to take the following steps to reduce exposure:
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities;
- Keep outdoor activities short; and
- Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
- For everyone else:
- Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard;
- Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors; and
- Be active outdoors when air quality is better.
For current health and safety information, follow MDHHS’ social media on Facebook and Twitter.
Air Quality Alerts are issued through the EnviroFlash system, a free subscription service. Sign up here to receive them.
Warren Family Safety Day is August 16
The Warren Crime Commission invites Warren residents to Family Safety Day on August 16! This event will be held at Halmich Park from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. There will be representatives from the Warren Police Department, Warren Fire Department, Warren Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and CARE of Southeastern Michigan to provide information and various demonstrations related to safety.
During the event, you will be able to:
- Watch demonstrations of CPR and other first aid procedures.
- Learn about effective ways to communicate during a disaster, crime prevention tips, and overdose prevention.
- Sign up for the fire department’s smoke detector program and schedule to have them installed at your home.
- Watch K9 and drone demonstrations.
- Get a free blood pressure and glucose screening.
The Warren Crime Commission will provide free ice cream, and there will also be food vendors on site.
Saturday is National Thrift Shop Day
This Saturday, August 16, is National Thrift Shop Day, and you can help celebrate this at your local Salvation Army stores. Salvation Army Thrift Shop stores will be offering shoppers who spend $30, a $10 coupon towards a future visit. There are 30 Salvation Army stores in Southeast Michigan. Salvation Army offers their customers everything from books, clothing, jewelry, toys, furniture, and sporting goods.
This promotion is designed to help families stretch their budgets while aiding the Salvation Army’s nonprofit Rehabilitation Center in Detroit. This program works with individuals throughout Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. To find a store nearest you, click here.