Community and Cooperation in the 83rd District

December 19, 2025

There is a clear truth about our politics and our broader society today: It feels more divided than at any point in recent memory. Scroll through social media or turn on the television, and we see disagreement hardened into distrust. Differences of opinion have become reasons, at their worst, to hurt one another, and in everyday life, to walk away in anger and resentment rather than work together. For many Pennsylvanians, that division isn’t abstract; it shows up at kitchen tables, school board meetings, and community events where conversations once felt easier. 

The holiday season, however, offers an opportunity to focus on what brings us together, and on the many reasons for joy that exist right in front of us. All year long in the 83rd District, I have seen powerful examples of people choosing to help one another instead of turning away. 

Teachers are teaching children to respect and support our veterans, like in Ms. Brenda Watkins’ class at Curtin Intermediate School. Her students are actively supporting the Wounded Warrior Project through fundraising and service work, and the class recently welcomed a retired United States Army Staff Sergeant and his service dog for a firsthand connection to the cause. 

In that same spirit of service, members of the Williamsport Armory of the Army National Guard and the Recruit Sustainment Detachment ruck marched 2,366 pounds of food to the American Rescue Workers ahead of Thanksgiving to help feed neighbors in need. This coming February, community members will once again walk together in the cold darkness during Coldest Night of the Year 2026, raising awareness and support for those experiencing homelessness. 

In Montgomery and Clinton Township, college students and community members came together to help the Footprints of Montgomery Food Pantry distribute hundreds of pounds of food ahead of the holidays. That same spirit was evident as residents gathered to place wreaths on the graves of veterans, honoring those who served. 

Across our region, people continue to step up. Volunteers from Hope Enterprises helped decorate the James V. Brown Library for Victorian Christmas. The STEP Office of Aging, with the help of community partners, filled gift bags with essential items for seniors who receive Meals on Wheels. 

In Williamsport, the police department hosted its fourth annual Shop with a Cop event, ensuring children could experience the joy of special Christmas gifts. The YWCA held a meaningful Women of Excellence ceremony, celebrating women of all ages who are making our community stronger; and two Eagle Scouts, sophomores Francis Dombrowski and Xavier Colimon from Loyalsock Township High School, have completed building projects in service of their community. 

I’ve visited the West End Christian Community Center to learn more about the vital services they provide to neighbors in need, and I’ve celebrated joy, togetherness, and movement with the Superstars at the YMCA. Every day, people in our community reach out instead of turning away—strangers donate to fundraising efforts after a house fire, and churches open their doors on frigid nights to those without a roof. 

As the representative for the 83rd District, I hear the frustration. I know people are tired of political posturing and endless finger-pointing. I have never believed that governing is about winning arguments. It’s about solving problems, and solving problems requires listening, compromise, and a willingness to work with everyone. 

That belief has guided my work in Harrisburg and here at home. While national headlines focus on what divides us, I see something very different in our own community: neighbors showing up for one another and partnerships that deliver real results. These are not abstract ideals; they are tangible successes that remind us what’s possible when we choose cooperation over conflict. 

I wish you and your family a joyous, healthy and happy holiday and Merry Christmas to all!      



Representative Jamie Flick
83rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andrew Forgotch
717.772.9905
aforgotch@pahousegop.com