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8 CITY VIEWS July 25, 2025 www.desitalkchicago.com – that’s all you need to know Sahara Home Care Launches Back-To-School Supply Giveaway Series Across Chicagoland By Bhailal M Patel Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains Declares Run For US Congress From California’s 22nd District F amily physician Dr. Jasmeet Bains announced her campaign for Congress from California’s 22nd District, July 16, 2025, pledging to bring new leadership if she wins in the 2026 general elections. She accusesWashington D.C. of often ignor- ing the Central Valley. “I’m a doctor, not a career politician — and I’ve spent my life on the frontlines, listening to Valley families and fighting for their health, their safety, and their future,” Bains said in a press release declaring her candidacy. “I’m running for Congress because we deserve better than broken promises and backroom deals, and our communities are tired of getting left behind. We deserve a representative who will actually show up, and stand up, for the Valley.” Dr. Bains is a family and addiction doctor who serves as the Central Valley’s Chief Medical Officer for the California Medical Assistance team, which organizes emergency health services across the state. Raised in Delano, the daughter of immigrants, and the first in her family to become a doctor, Dr. Bains repre- sents the Kern County area in the State Assembly. She was elected to the State Assembly in 2022 with strong bipartisan support. She is an advocate for under- served communities and rural healthcare, as well as an experienced physician in the field of addiction and the fentanyl crisis. To date three candidates are in the running for the House seat in the Nov. 3, 2026 election. The incumbent is Republican Rep. David Valadao, who, she says has voted for gutting Medi-Cal, slashing food assistance, and backing a budget that she says would devastate work- ing families in the Central Valley. Valadao has been in Congress from 2013 through 2019, and then 2021 to the present. The two Democrats on the ballot so far are Rudy Salas and Randy Villegas. The Cook Political Report and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball both rate District 22 and leaning Republican. Valadao won the 2024 elections with a 7 percent lead over his Democratic opponent Rudy Salas. CA-22 includes Bakersfield, Delano, Hanford, and communities across Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties — one of the most diverse regions in California. “For too long, politicians in both parties have treated the Central Valley like an afterthought,” Dr. Bains says, “I’m running to change that — because this district is my home, and I’ll never stop fighting for it.” Dr. Bains is a two-term California State Assembly member who represents District 35. She is a graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology in biology, and earned her medical degree from the American University of Antigua. Dr. Bains completed a primary care psychiatry fel- lowship at the University of California-Irvine in 2019. Her career experience includes working as a physi- cian at Clinica Sierra Vista in Bakersfield and Omni Family Health and as a medical director of Bakersfield Recovery Services, her biography on the campaign web- site, dr.jasmeetbains.com says. Bains volunteered with the California Academy of Family Physicians and the California Medical Associa- tion. She was the chair of the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission for the Office of State- wide Health Planning and Development and a volun- teer physician for the Central Valley Unit Medical Team for the State of California’s Emergency Medical Services Authority. In the State Assembly, she is credited with securing $20 million to fight fentanyl addiction and drug trafficking, and led an effort to build a University of California medi- cal school in Kern County. She was named Legislator of the Year by CalPACE, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Crime Victims United; honored by the American Sikh Council for breaking bar- riers; and recognized as Physician of the Year by the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:Campaignwebsite @drjasmeetbains.com Dr. Jasmeet Bains NATIONAL AFFAIRS D espite a light summer drizzle, Sahara Home Care’s annual Back-to-School Supply Giveaway kicked off with heart- warming success at its Corporate Office in Lombard. Local families braved the rain to collect free backpacks filled with essential school supplies, ensuring their children are well- prepared for the new academic year. The event highlighted not only the resilience of the community but also Sahara’s unwavering commitment to giving back beyond healthcare. “We were overjoyed by the turnout,” said the Sahara Home Care team. “The smiles on the chil- dren’s faces as they chose their backpacks made every moment meaningful.” Children received vibrant, age-appropriate backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, crayons, and more. Families also engaged with Sahara staff to learn about the company’s home care services, all while enjoying a sense of shared community spirit—rain or shine. Upcoming Giveaway Locations & Dates Following the success in Lombard, Sahara Home Care is proud to continue the giveaway at its branch offices throughout Illinois: • Bolingbrook – Tuesday, July 22 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Melrose Park – Monday, July 29 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Justice –Wednesday, July 30 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Mount Prospect – Thursday, July 31 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Skokie – Saturday, August 2 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM • Devon – Tuesday, August 5 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Rockford – Thursday, August 7 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Hanover Park – Saturday, August 9 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Event Guidelines: • Backpacks are distributed first-come, first-served while supplies last. • Limit one backpack per child. • Families with multiple children are en- couraged to bring each child in person. These events are free and open to the public—no registration required. Just arrive, connect, and leave with supplies and smiles. Supporting Families, One Backpack at a Time With over two decades of trusted service, Sahara Home Care is proud to be more than a healthcare provider—it is a partner in community well-being. The Back-to-School Giveaway is part of Sahara’s broader mission to uplift families through service, compas- sion, and care. Providing Quality Care by Caring Profes- sionals.Sahara Home Care.To learn more about Sahara Home Care’s wide range of home care services or future events, visit www.saharahomecare.com or follow us on social media. -Advertorial