How Can We Help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bananas apples and oranges are healthful and cheap. Do the little gourmets know organic by taste? Sheesh. What life skills federal service confers. I hope the berry buyer doesn't have to administer programs for the long term poor.

Excuse me? Did you just insult all Fed workers bc one person buys organic berries?
I’m a furloughed Fed who only buys the fruits you mentioned. Are you insulting my intelligence in a broad attack on Feds?
F-u , seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a fed with two kids, husbands salary is half of mine. Money would help specifically money for food. Or if someone could pay for grocery pickup and I pick it up. (Just a dream but this is probably what helps most). We’re eating beans and frozen ground beef I got on sale. But for my kiddos I still get fresh berries, fresh veggies, and the food they like (and some of it is organic sigh).

I would like to help in this precise way. Even if I could pay for one grocery run for one Fed family that really needs that help, it would be worth it. But, how do I know who needs it? How do I connect with them? PP, where are you located? I am in MoCo, MD.

The last thing I want to do is to give to charitable organizations because I do not want to pay for their executives.

Contact Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church. Theyre offering help to Feds and your donation would go directly to those that need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started a monthly recurring donation to capital area food bank of $50 and my husband is a fed who isn't being paid.

That's amazing but please stop if you need to!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a grocery gift card drive at our school we contributed to. Anyone can get some and it will give the families choices and stretch their budgets. Separately donated to a food bank.

Great! Everyone else keep em coming!

[Anonymous]

I’m the organic berry buyer, what a sad person you are PP. I work full time still and have since Oct. 1 and I work in healthcare. I am doing my goddam hardest to have my toddlers eat the stupid organic berries.

At my wits end with with the hate spewed on here and at feds. Exhausted and exasperated.

[Anonymous]

I donated money to two food banks but now that I know about community fridge, will take some food to one next week

[Anonymous]

Donating $1 a day paid on the first of every month to

https://www.feedingamerica.org/

I schedule a reminder email and forward it to myself each month.

[Anonymous]

Fed who is working without pay here.

I'd just like to highlight the scores of former Feds and Fed contractors who were terminated this year in our area. Many of them are having a tough time because their entire industry imploded (thinking of USAID). Also, admin leave was terminated in September for many of them and some are uninsured or on COBRA.

https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/news/from-global-relief-to-mutual-aid-former-usaid-workers-leverage-cash-transfer-expertise-to-support-their-own

https://usaidalumni.org

I just attended a fundraiser run by former USAID workers who are STILL raising funds to cover HIV meds for some of their former programs because of their awareness of how grave the situation is for children and families without them.

Highlighting them because they have largely been forgotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a not-yet-furloughed fed, but have a team that is mostly furloughed but still working employees (different funding lines…)
First, feds have a TON of resources. Most banks are offering no interest loans matching their normal paycheck. I’ve heard some say they don’t want to impact their credit score… but honestly, it is better to pay bills on time and have a no interest loan than to be late on the bills. Plus, when it comes time for a major purchase, these loans can be explained – “I was a furloughed federal employee.” I know one employee took a part time job on the weekends.
That said, for this office of mostly furloughed but still working federal employees – the team set up a mini-food bank that those of us that can are donating to. We did a pot luck last week – with those of us can brought in most of the items and brought in enough for some of the junior employees to take some home. I am providing them a luncheon next week – deli trays from Giant (sandwich tray, wrap tray, hummus tray, fruit tray, vegetable tray) - and ordered enough that they will have some to take home.
On top of that, I am dropping off 8 bags of canned food to my local food bank.

DP, I just need to clarify that no, "most banks" are not offering interest free loans. Federal employee credit unions have offered loans in the amount of *one* paycheck if you already had direct deposit with them before the shutdown. If you didn't direct-deposit with a CU, you don't get anything, and if you did then it's limited to one paycheck when we're now missing multiple checks.

I personally can afford groceries for now but I am grateful to PPs who want to help others, and don't want them to think it's unneeded. It's going to be a lean holiday season even for me.

Navy Federal updated theirs quickly to replacing paychecks indefinitely until the govt shutdown. USAA and NWFCU are each offering 0% interest loans and, for the latter, you don't have to be a current member to join. There's also SEVERAL other FCUs with similar deals. PP is right, we have a lot more options than most.

[Anonymous]

I dropped off three grocery bags full of food to Manna Food Center this afternoon. Brought my elementary aged kids with me and explained that people in the area are really hurting right now and can’t afford to feed their families because of the policies of our current president. Killed two birds today with a food donation and creating two future democrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a fed with two kids, husbands salary is half of mine. Money would help specifically money for food. Or if someone could pay for grocery pickup and I pick it up. (Just a dream but this is probably what helps most). We’re eating beans and frozen ground beef I got on sale. But for my kiddos I still get fresh berries, fresh veggies, and the food they like (and some of it is organic sigh).

Honestly, I feel terrible about the shutdown, but you should switch to frozen berries and non-organic. No one will die, but your dollars would go a lot further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I donated $500 to Capital Area Food Bank this week. How about someone match me and post here when you do!

I donate $200 to CAFB and $200 to Bread for the city each month through my son, whose company matches 100%.