Government Shutdown Freebies Support And Offers For Furloughed Federal Workers In 2018-2019

During the partial government shutdown that began in December 2018, approximately 800,000 federal employees faced financial uncertainty as they went without paychecks. The shutdown, which lasted 35 days, created significant hardship for furloughed workers and their families. In response, numerous businesses, organizations, and community groups stepped forward to offer free products, discounts, and services to support those affected. This comprehensive overview details the various freebies and assistance programs available to furloughed federal workers during this challenging period.

Healthcare and Financial Relief

Healthcare providers and financial institutions recognized the immediate needs of federal workers during the shutdown by offering specialized assistance programs. These initiatives provided critical support for both medical needs and financial obligations.

Beaumont Health implemented one of the most significant healthcare relief measures by waiving emergency and urgent care copays and deductibles for unpaid federal workers. This policy was retroactive to midnight on Saturday, December 22, 2018, when the shutdown began and applied to both the furloughed workers and their insured family members. The waiver remained in effect throughout the duration of the government shutdown. Federal employees who had received emergency or urgent care services since the shutdown's commencement could contact Beaumont at 248-577-9443 to adjust their bills accordingly.

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission demonstrated community support by suspending water service turnoffs for customers directly impacted by the shutdown. The utility provider also waived late fees for affected federal workers and extended the enrollment period for the Get Current program, which assists customers with delinquent balances. These measures helped ensure that basic utilities remained accessible to families facing financial hardship.

Life insurance companies also provided relief to federal workers. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company announced that it would keep policies in force by waiving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days for nearly 27,000 AFGE members who held policies with the company. The company established separate contact lines for different policy types: policies beginning with the letter "Y" could call 844-800-9146, while all other policies could call 888-513-8797.

For those with ongoing financial commitments, Rent-a-Center's Benefits Plus Membership offered significant assistance. Members who had up-to-date accounts at the time of furlough could qualify for a payment waiver. The program covered payments for up to four months (up to $1,000) for members who were involuntarily unemployed due to being fired, laid off, suspended, or out of work due to a labor dispute or strike.

Educational resources also became available during the shutdown. Rosetta Stone offered a free three-month online subscription to furloughed government workers, providing an opportunity for professional development or language learning during the unexpected time off.

Restaurant and Food Discounts

The restaurant industry demonstrated remarkable solidarity with furloughed federal workers by offering numerous discounts and free meals across multiple states. These initiatives not only provided financial relief but also offered opportunities for social connection during a stressful period.

In the Washington, D.C. area, numerous establishments created special offers. Barrel introduced an "Unhappy Hour" featuring select cocktails for $10 and beers for $6 available all day. Butterworth's implemented a government shutdown sale with $5 Welsh rarebit, $6 mini Guinness, and specialty cocktails named "furlough-rita" and "continuing rye-solution" priced at $10 each. Carmine's extended its all-day Happy Hour throughout the shutdown, offering $5 meatball sliders and $8 specialty cocktails to all customers. Compass Coffee provided a free pastry with the purchase of any drink for those showing government identification, while Cork Wine Bar offered discounts on select food and glasses of wine starting at 3 p.m.

In the metropolitan D.C. area, several restaurants continued their support through multiple channels. The White House location offered $5 canned cocktails until the shutdown ended. Kbird Bar provided free dinners for furloughed workers every Monday at 5:30 p.m. KNEAD Hospitality + Design offered free punch at each of its brands, including Gatsby's Greta's Punch, The Grill's Grill Punch, Mi Vida's Ponche De Lola, Bistro Du Jour's Colette's Punch, and Succotash's Belle's Punch.

King Street Oyster Bar at multiple locations extended daily happy hour from 3-6:30 p.m. with $1 KSOB oysters (three per order), $5-7 cocktails/beer/wine, and $6-7 food items including tuna tacos, shrimp bites, bruschetta, mussels, burgers, wings, and shrimp po' boy. Let's Meat on the Avenue offered 10% off all purchases, while Madhatter featured daily specials including trivia with $7 build-your-own burgers on Mondays, $3 tacos and $4 Coronas with $5 house margaritas on Tuesdays, $18 whole Maine lobster on Wednesdays, $1 Coors Light mugs from 8 p.m. to close on Thursdays, and $5 martinis from 4-8 p.m. on Fridays.

McClellan's Retreat implemented a shutdown special featuring $15 grilled cheese with an Old Fashioned Monday through Saturday, while also offering all-day happy hour on Wednesdays and Sundays during the shutdown with Old Fashioned or rotating punch for $8, Paloma or Aperol Spritz for $9, and Martinis for $10. NAJA Mediterranean offered a "Dip & Sip" package for $15 that included one signature dip paired with any signature cocktail, house wine, or beer. Nue Elegantly Vietnamese provided $5 off cocktails, $3 off glasses of wine, and $2 off beer during happy hour weekdays from 4-6 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30-11:30 p.m.

In Oregon, several restaurants and food establishments joined in supporting furloughed workers, though specific establishments were not named in the source materials. Food boxes and other nutritional support were mentioned as available resources for affected workers and contractors in the fifth week of the shutdown.

Entertainment and Recreation Offers

Cultural institutions, entertainment venues, and recreational facilities opened their doors to furloughed federal workers, offering free admission and special programs to help alleviate the stress of the shutdown period.

Historic sites and museums provided significant support to federal employees. Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, D.C. offered free admission during the shutdown to federal workers who showed their federal ID or badge. The promotion was valid Tuesdays through Sundays, with the exception of New Year's Day. Lincoln's Cottage also provided free admission during the shutdown, encouraging visitors to call ahead and bring their government ID when visiting the historic home.

Cinemas extended complimentary admission to federal workers. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Ashburn and Woodbridge, Virginia offered free movie tickets Mondays through Thursdays throughout January 2019, with federal employees required to present their identification at the box office.

Sports venues created special opportunities for entertainment and family activities. George Mason University gave away free men's and women's basketball tickets to federal workers with government identification, though employees were limited to two complimentary tickets per contest. Information was available by calling the George Mason University ticket office at 703-993-3270.

Eastern Michigan University demonstrated its support by offering furloughed federal workers free admission to all home athletic events until the government reopened. This initiative allowed workers and their families to enjoy sporting events without financial burden.

In Oregon, Mt. Hood Meadows provided a recreational outlet by offering free skiing on weekdays (excluding Presidents Day on February 18, 2019) to furloughed federal workers. The offer allowed for free weekday lift access "for as long as the government shutdown lasted" and required presentation of official federal ID. The Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Dave Tragethon, explained that while they preferred employees to be back at their jobs, they wanted to "provide enrichment with a day on the mountain" during the difficult period.

Unique wellness opportunities also emerged during the shutdown. Goat Yoga in Oregon City offered a free event specifically for furloughed workers at 10:30 a.m. on February 5, 2019. The organizers recognized that while they couldn't help with financial strain, they could assist with mental health through "disconnecting from day to day stress and focusing on happiness," which aligned with the core principles of their practice.

Retail and Service Discounts

Beyond food and entertainment, various retail establishments and service providers stepped forward to offer discounts and special programs to support furloughed federal workers during the shutdown period.

In Takoma Park, Maryland, People's Book demonstrated community solidarity by offering free coffee to furloughed government employees. The bookstore, located on Westmoreland Avenue, had previously hosted "Fed Fridays" offering free coffee to federal workers, but expanded this promotion to every day of the week until the government reopened. Co-owner Megan Bormet explained in an email to customers, "We can't fix it, but until the knuckleheads in charge do, we've decided to give free coffee to any furloughed or otherwise affected federal employee until the government reopens... Come by and we'll offer you a sympathetic ear."

The regional pizza chain &pizza, with locations in Bethesda, College Park, Gaithersburg, North Bethesda, and Silver Spring, offered 30% off all orders to federal workers who presented valid government identification. While the source material doesn't specify the expiration date of this offer, it indicates it was available through October of an unspecified year.

Financial service institutions also implemented support measures for federal workers. While specific details were limited in the source materials, it's noted that various assistance programs became available to help employees manage their finances during the unpaid furlough period.

Community Support Initiatives

Community organizations and local government entities implemented programs to support furloughed federal workers beyond individual business offers. These initiatives provided systemic support for families facing financial uncertainty.

Local governments recognized the challenges posed by the shutdown and adjusted policies to assist affected workers. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission's decision to suspend water service turnoffs and waive late fees represented a significant municipal-level support system for families struggling to maintain essential services during the unpaid furlough period.

Community-based organizations provided direct assistance to federal workers and their families. Food boxes and nutritional support were distributed to affected workers and contractors in Oregon, demonstrating organized community response to the crisis. These initiatives helped ensure that basic needs were met even as regular paychecks were delayed.

Religious and community centers often served as gathering points for support networks, though specific programs were not detailed in the source materials. The collective response from various community sectors highlighted the broader recognition of federal workers' essential contributions to society, even when their own government failed to provide for them.

How to Access These Offers

Accessing the various freebies and discounts required different procedures depending on the type of offer and the establishment providing it. Understanding these requirements helped federal workers maximize the available support.

For healthcare-related waivers, such as those provided by Beaumont Health, affected workers needed to contact the healthcare provider directly using the specified phone number (248-577-9443) to adjust bills for services received since the shutdown began. Documentation of federal employment status was likely required during this process.

Restaurant and retail discounts generally required presentation of valid government identification at the point of purchase or service. This verification process ensured that offers were extended only to those directly affected by the furlough. Some establishments, like Kbird Bar offering free dinners on Mondays, had specific time requirements that workers needed to be aware of.

Entertainment and recreation venues had varying procedures for accessing free admission. Some, like Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, required advance notice or specific documentation beyond government ID, while others like Woodrow Wilson House simply required ID upon arrival. For venues like George Mason University basketball games, advance ticket pickup was necessary by calling the specified phone number.

Financial assistance programs often required proactive enrollment or application. For Rent-a-Center's Benefits Plus Membership, workers needed to confirm their eligibility based on their account status at the time of furlough and understand the specific terms of the payment waiver.

Community support initiatives often required workers to connect with specific organizations or representatives. For example, accessing food boxes in Oregon required contact with the listed distribution points, though specific details were not provided in the source materials.

Conclusion

The government shutdown of 2018-2019 created significant hardship for approximately 800,000 federal workers who went without paychecks for 35 days. In response, a remarkable network of support emerged from healthcare providers, restaurants, entertainment venues, retail establishments, and community organizations. These initiatives ranged from waivers of medical copays and deductibles to free meals, discounted entertainment, and essential utility assistance.

The variety of support demonstrated a broad recognition of federal workers' value to communities across the country. From healthcare facilities like Beaumont Health to local bookstores offering free coffee, the message was clear: these essential workers were valued even when their own government failed to provide for them.

For affected workers, these offers provided not just financial relief but also social connection and opportunities for recreation during a stressful period. The free skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows, complimentary basketball games at George Mason University, and unique experiences like Goat Yoga helped maintain quality of life during an extended period of uncertainty.

While these initiatives couldn't replace lost wages, they represented a powerful demonstration of community solidarity and support. The widespread response highlighted the essential role that federal workers play in both government operations and the broader economy, as well as the willingness of private businesses and community organizations to step in when government failed to meet its obligations.

Sources

1. Government shutdown: Freebies for furloughed federal workers
2. Federal worker resources in Montgomery County
3. Assistance programs for federal employees during furlough
4. Washington D.C. government shutdown sales and freebies
5. Oregon groups offering help during government shutdown
6. Local restaurants supporting furloughed government employees
7. Government shutdown freebies and deals in the DMV