Government  

U.S. Second Gentleman Emhoff Visited Silver Spring’s Mary’s Center; Ordered Fish Tacos at El Golfo

Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman of the United States, and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin came to Silver Spring Tuesday morning and toured Mary’s Center to see its COVID-19 vaccination work.

Mary’s Center is a community health center serving over 60,000 people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds in the Washington, D.C. metro area and has been offering COVID -19 testing and vaccination to those in underserved areas.

Following his visit, Emhoff wrote in a press release, “I learned a lot about the holistic approach, telehealth, and most importantly, that reaching the community is key.” He also added, “To go out to where they are and use them to help spread the word to the rest of the community, not only on the vaccines but all the other services that you have so you can be a model to others for how to serve your community in the right way.”

At the end of his visit, Emhoff stated, “I’m humbled to be at Mary’s Center and hear these stories and share them with the Vice President and President.”

Also excited was the Center’s President and CEO Mary Gomez. “This visit represents a demonstration of genuine interest in our community and the impact that the vaccine is having on our families,” she wrote in the press release. “As we look towards the future, we are confident that Mary’s Center will be able to work with the new administration in the overall recovery of the region.”

Emhoff, who is the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, arrived at the center at 10 a.m.. He toured the clinic and spoke with a patient after she received the vaccine, according to a press release from Mary’s Center. Then he and Rep. Raskin met privately with Gomez, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tollie Elliott and the Director of Clinical Services Nurse Elysia Jordan to learn about the Center’s efforts during the pandemic.

Before they left, Emhoff and Raskin visited the newly-arrived mobile unit that the Center plans to use to reach community members who may not otherwise have access to the vaccine.

“Mary’s Center and community health clinics are the critical bridge for reaching into the community to get the vaccine to the people who need it most,” Raskin said. “Thank you so much to the second gentleman for spotlighting the magnificent work of Mary’s Center.”

According to a tweet from Councilmember Evan Glass, Emhoff and Raskin also went to Long Branch and stopped at El Golfo Restaurant on Flower Road in Silver Spring. The two men got one order of fish tacos to go, according to the restaurant staff.

Write a Comment

Related Articles