Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

As shutdown drags on, federal workers flock to food pantries
CBS "News" ^ | January 15, 2019 | By Megan Cerullo (D-CBS)

Posted on 01/15/2019 11:06:23 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Federal workers -- who haven't seen paychecks since before the government closed on Dec. 22 -- are lining up at food pantries across the U.S.

The Capital Area Food Bank, which operates in the Washington, D.C. area, hosted five pop-up food pantry locations after federal workers -- who missed their paychecks for the first time last Friday -- flooded the organization's "Hunger Lifeline" with calls for help, according to President and CEO Radha Muthiah.

Hotline representatives direct callers to the food pantries closest to their homes, and help make them aware of supplementary nutrition alternatives.

"We have seen an uptick in the number of calls from individuals who weren't traditionally clients to better understand the emergency food assistance network in our area should the shutdown persist," Muthiah told CBS. "Typically, SNAP [food stamps] recipients are the ones that come to food pantries but what we did this weekend was targeted to federal workers and contractors who typically earn more income but had missed paychecks," she said.

Workers were grateful for the extra assistance but fearful that it might not last as long as they need it to, she said. "The most common question we heard was, 'Can we count on you to be here next weekend?'"

Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, says this food bind is illustrative of "how many Americans are only one missed paycheck away from hunger."

He said the shutdown could become an "epic calamity" for hungry Americans should it last even another week.

"For most people pantries are a last resort. This is something that never should happen in a rational, reasonable world," he said. "But as long as this is happening we will make sure federal employees and contractors who are serving us don't go hungry."

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bias; fakenews; journalism; media; shutdown
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last
Fully Fund and Build the Wall.
1 posted on 01/15/2019 11:06:23 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

RIF time


2 posted on 01/15/2019 11:07:55 AM PST by rigelkentaurus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Locusts!


3 posted on 01/15/2019 11:09:18 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Should I assume that of you are a Federal Worker that you don’t have any Credit Cards, no Savings, no IRA’s you can take money out of and no Friends or Relatives that can loan you a few bucks to buy Groceries?


4 posted on 01/15/2019 11:09:19 AM PST by Kickass Conservative (Democracy, two Wolves and one Sheep deciding what's for Dinner.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

This is phony. Anyone that has worked for the Federal Government that was honest and thoughtful would have enough set back to last them for three months if they lived within their means. Americans need to face reality that Federal Government employees in general are paid better and have more benefits than the average citizen. Do not buy into the farce.


5 posted on 01/15/2019 11:09:38 AM PST by Herman Ball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

No Big Macs for them.


6 posted on 01/15/2019 11:09:44 AM PST by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Amazing how many people that live so close to the edge financially.


7 posted on 01/15/2019 11:10:01 AM PST by IamConservative (I was nervous like the third chimp in line for the Ark after rain had started falling.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Here’s hoping them that is unpaid put on a couple of layers of fat during their working time.

I hear packets of condiments can be used to make some mighty tasty sauces, soups and dips.. some stale bread, a little salt and pepper, some gubamint cheese, yummmy. Shutdown fondue, just for you.


8 posted on 01/15/2019 11:10:40 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Monthly Donors Rock!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

President Trump tweet out perhaps Nancy Pelosi can donate her paycheck like I did why is she still getting paid and they are suffering at her expense? Oh not to mention her wall.


9 posted on 01/15/2019 11:12:53 AM PST by CincyRichieRich (Either the Wall gets built or America becomes a democrat socialist state.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Anti-Bubba182
A bunch of people who make a LOT more than working in the private sector,and no rainy day funds?Cry me a river you idiots ,your’re not smart enough to live unassisted.
10 posted on 01/15/2019 11:15:10 AM PST by Farmer Dean (168 grains of instant conflict resolution)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Five days before the FedGov can start permanently laying of the furloughed employees. (RIF - reduction in force)

I wonder if that is Trump’s plan.


11 posted on 01/15/2019 11:16:30 AM PST by cuban leaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IamConservative

But the Lexus and the new house. It was only $750,000 and barely big enough for the four of us.

They also cut down to one $9 coffee a day.


12 posted on 01/15/2019 11:17:57 AM PST by cyclotic ( Democrats must be politically eviscerated, disemboweled and demolished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
hosted five pop-up food pantry locations after federal workers

Sounds like five pop-up photo ops for federal workers...

.

13 posted on 01/15/2019 11:23:14 AM PST by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative

Yeah, right? These stories are bs. Meant to make the rest of us feel guilty for the ‘’poor government workers’’.


14 posted on 01/15/2019 11:23:37 AM PST by jmacusa (Made it Ma, top of the world!'')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

They get paid three times the national average


15 posted on 01/15/2019 11:28:29 AM PST by faithhopecharity (“Politicians arent born, they’re excreted.” Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rigelkentaurus

Chart for RIF:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/slate_labs/2013/10/federal_government_shutdown_agencies_with_the_most_furloughs.html


16 posted on 01/15/2019 11:31:11 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Just curious. Are food pantries funded by the government, or by private charities?


17 posted on 01/15/2019 11:32:06 AM PST by Maceman (We need a temporary ban on Muslims just until churches and synagogues can be built in Mecca.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Hard to believe that so many FedGov employees are in food pantries after the loss of a single paycheck.


18 posted on 01/15/2019 11:32:14 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

What a lot of crap. These people are hardly destitute.


19 posted on 01/15/2019 11:33:02 AM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cuban leaf

Interesting....Didn’t know that. But it does sound “Trump”.


20 posted on 01/15/2019 11:34:13 AM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson