As the federal shutdown continues, many furloughed federal employees are feeling the effects in their pocketbooks as they miss their first paychecks on Friday, Jan. 11.
To help those who find themselves in an emergency situation, Gleaners is supplying distribution sites in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe counties with food boxes to help employees and their families bridge the gap in the short term. Federal employees affected by the government shutdown can dial 211 to reach the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and to determine a pantry or distribution center near them to pick up a food box starting Monday, Jan. 14.
In partnership with United Way for Southeast Michigan, Gleaners is using emergency reserve funds to help ensure struggling federal workers do not go hungry during this time. Negotiations between lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to reopen the government have stalled, stirring anxieties among the 800,000 federal workers nationwide who have gone without pay since the shutdown started on Dec. 22.
“Every day Gleaners helps ensure struggling neighbors across the region get the food they need resulting from a variety of life’s circumstances. In this urgent situation, we could not turn our backs on individuals who may be facing hunger for the first time and don’t know where to turn,” says Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners.
To receive food assistance, federal employees must present their federal employee identification number and a valid ID when they pick up their food box.
If you are not a federal employee but still need food assistance, you also can call 211 and the United Way for Southeastern Michigan will direct you to a pantry near you to set up an appointment for service.
If you want to help provide food for workers impacted by the government shutdown, click here to make a tax-deductible gift.
