“State House Reps, Are Ya Listenin’?” Local Seniors Sing Holiday Carols for a Cause to Raise Awareness for Social Justice Issues
Senior-led nonprofit Massachusetts Senior Action Council performs its second consecutive year of caroling to highlight senior issues that matter – COVID-19 style
BOSTON – In lieu of in-person celebrations, Massachusetts Senior Action Council (MSAC)
premiered a Facebook video of social justice holiday carols
sung to State House lawmakers to highlight issues affecting seniors across the state. Despite a few technical difficulties that come with coordinating 30+ seniors across the state on Zoom, MSAC members sang to the tune of classic holiday songs like “Silent Night” and “Deck the Halls,” changing the lyrics to highlight issues like Medicare Savings Program expansion and streamlining the application for SNAP benefits and MassHealth.
Since March, MSAC members have held virtual meetings to connect members with local officials, state legislators, and each other, proving that seniors are adjusting with the times and finding new ways to engage with their communities while staying safe from COVID-19.
“With everything that has impacted seniors this year, we knew we needed to make our voices heard on the issues that impact our members – but we also wanted to spread a little holiday cheer,” said Edna Pruce, President of MSAC. “Last year, our members made quite the impression singing these MSAC-specific carols with our holiday gear on at the State House. We wanted to carry on the tradition in 2020 in any way we could.”
Since actions at the State House are out of the question this year due to COVID-19, the members performed their carols virtually on Zoom and recorded the event to share with legislators on platforms like Facebook to draw attention to the issues affecting their members.
“We’re glad to do anything we can do to spread the word about the reality for Massachusetts seniors and what they are going through,” said Barbara Mann, a resident of Lynn and former MSAC president who participated this year and last year. “This is such a unique, fun way to get our members’ voices in front of those who can make a change.”
The virtual event also highlights MSAC’s efforts to keep their members connected even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, MSAC has donated 75 tablets to seniors in need to keep them connected to the organization, loved ones, and their communities.
In 2021, MSAC members look forward to continuing the fight for critical issues highlighted in their carols like Medicare Savings Program expansion, MassHealth estate recovery reform, and creation of a common application for MassHealth/Medicare Savings Program and SNAP.
For more information about MSAC, visit
https://www.masssenioraction.org/
About Massachusetts Senior Action Council
Massachusetts Senior Action Council is a statewide, grassroots, senior-led organization that empowers its members to use their own voices to address key public policy and community issues that affect their health and well-being. Now it its fourth decade of organizing, Mass. Senior Action is an effective, grassroots activist group, led by seniors fighting for social justice. It is the acknowledged “go to” organization in Massachusetts for developing intergenerational social change strategies to safeguard and strengthen the systems that all community members need to rely on for economic and health security.