Rep. Hughes Launches Volunteer COVID-19 Response Team

State Representative Anne Hughes (AD-135) announced Saturday that her campaign has launched a volunteer network to contact constituents about their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 30 Hughes volunteers from across Weston, Easton, and Redding are reaching out to fellow district residents via phone, text and social media to see if they are looking for additional supplies or would like help with errands.

Hughes, who has worked as a social worker for over three decades, follows up with constituents who indicate to volunteers that they could use supplies or services, connecting them to existing services or with volunteers.

“A large part of my job -- both as a state representative and a social worker -- has always been to communicate with people about the resources and latest information available and to get them what they need,” said Hughes. “COVID-19 has led to more people requesting help than ever before and even more people who need help but aren’t aware of or are not comfortable asking for the resources that are available to them.”

Hughes was already responding to dozens of constituents a day with COVID-19 related requests before the volunteer effort began.

In less than a week of the volunteer effort, Hughes has already responded to nearly dozen additional requests for services or resources brought to her attention by volunteers. On Tuesday, she personally delivered PPE masks to the doorstep of an elderly couple that has to travel out of state for cancer treatment.

“I ran in 2018 on a platform of citizen engagement. It makes sense, in our district’s hour of need, to galvanize the public's will to help each other by checking in with our neighbors and working together to reach far more than I am able to, as one person,” said Hughes.

The effort comes on the heels of the suspension of the legislative session in Hartford due to COVID-19. Under more normal circumstances, Hughes, who is facing a primary challenge on August 11, would be ramping up her re-election effort. Maggie Silverstein of Easton, a volunteer who chairs the Hughes campaign, noted that Hughes and the campaign have “all but paused campaigning” in order to focus on responding to constituent needs.

Any person who would like to sign up to join the Hughes COVID-19 Response Team or request resources and assistance may go to annehughesproactivect.org/covid or reach out to Hughes directly at 203-613-4040.

Anne Hughes serves as the representative for Connecticut's 135th Assembly District which includes Weston, Easton and parts of Redding.