"BEGGING FOR CHANGE" PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17th

We are forwarding you some important information on a press conference being held tomorrow, June 17th at 11:00 am. Our allies with SEIU are holding the "Begging for Change" event at the intersection of Western Promenade and West Street in Portland to highlight the need for change in our health care system. EVENT: More and More Mainers "Begging for Change" to Meet Health Care Needs Campaign for Public Health Plan Option Highlights Those Forced to Ask for Spare Change; Unveil "Begging for Change--The Healthcare Blues" WHO: Maine families who have been forced to collect spare change to pay for health care; Dr. Wayne Myers, M.D., former Director, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and past President, National Rural Health Association; Nicole Witherbee, Maine Center for Economic Policy; Portland musician Peter Alexander, who will perform his new composition, the "Begging for Change-The Healthcare Blues."Thank you for your help in achieving quality, affordable health care for all Maine people and Americans! WHAT: A press conference to announce the launch of the "Begging for Change" campaign here in Maine. Throughout our state, local convenience stores and gas stations display cans or jars to solicit spare change for a Maine family faced with a health care catastrophe. Or, one will see fliers for yard sales, community suppers or other events to raise money for a Maine family that has been devastated by medical bills and has resorted to asking strangers for help. An example of one of those cans is at the bottom of this advisory. We have been collecting these pictures for over a month. The campaign will collect as many of these images as is possible and present them to our members of Congress to underscore the need for a strong and immediate public health insurance option. Every day we wait, these families and many more across the state delay care and make life-or-death medical decisions based on economic factors. WHEN: Wednesday, June 17th at 11:00 AM EDT WHERE: At the intersection of Western Promenade and West Street in Portland. RAIN LOCATION: The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, 561 Congress Street, Portland FOR MORE INFO: Contact Greg Howard at 207-232-2863 or ctwmaine@gmail.com Thank you for your help in achieving quality, affordable health care for all Maine people!