Anonymous wrote:I need a new roof, my steps fixed and some a room or two painted and my leaves raked

More than happy to hire one of you.

I say that as a very very rich lady when we were very very very broke hired my brother and I as teens to support our widowed mom and she let us paint, do work for her. We painted her whole basement. My mom did not believe in charity but she was ok with us working for money.

Anonymous wrote:I need a new roof, my steps fixed and some a room or two painted and my leaves raked

More than happy to hire one of you.

I say that as a very very rich lady when we were very very very broke hired my brother and I as teens to support our widowed mom and she let us paint, do work for her. We painted her whole basement. My mom did not believe in charity but she was ok with us working for money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It is most major banks. Bank of America, Chase Bank, US Bank, Truist, Wells Fargo all have programs - you have to (shock) actually call and inquire.
I am a member to both Navy Federal credit union and USAA. Both are offering no interest loans. You get one loan for each missed payday. Not “one loan and that’s it”.
And honestly, everyone knew this furlough was coming. It’s not our first one and it’s not our last one. Why anyone wouldn’t belong to a bank that assists its members of beyond me.

What a crappy take. You and the smug PP with the in-office pantry want to pat yourselves on the back in a thread where people are asking how to help. People need help, other people want to help, so why are you getting in the way with your "people are banking wrong" comments?

If you want to give food or cash to a food bank, that's awesome. If for some reason you don't, like the PP worried about overhead, there are ways to find direct recipients. Any and all help is good. Feds are, on the whole, pretty likely to pass it on if they can, and many of us are already in networks to support colleagues who are struggling.

If somebody gave me a Safeway card I would pass it to needier families I know (and I think most feds would) but if someone in front of me at the grocery covered my bill, I'd be incredibly touched and grateful for that too. And it would make a real difference, even though I'm not destitute yet.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It is most major banks. Bank of America, Chase Bank, US Bank, Truist, Wells Fargo all have programs - you have to (shock) actually call and inquire.
I am a member to both Navy Federal credit union and USAA. Both are offering no interest loans. You get one loan for each missed payday. Not “one loan and that’s it”.
And honestly, everyone knew this furlough was coming. It’s not our first one and it’s not our last one. Why anyone wouldn’t belong to a bank that assists its members of beyond me.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).