Government Shutdown Freebies And Assistance Programs For Federal Employees

During government shutdowns, federal employees who are furloughed or required to work without pay face significant financial challenges. As a response, numerous businesses, organizations, and government agencies have established programs to provide relief through free meals, discounts, financial assistance, and essential services. This article examines the various freebies, discounts, and support programs available to affected federal workers, with specific attention to resources in Los Angeles and other major cities across the United States.

Understanding the Impact of Government Shutdowns on Federal Employees

Government shutdowns create immediate financial hardships for federal workers. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, approximately 800,000 federal employees were furloughed or required to work without pay starting December 21, with many missing their first paycheck on January 11. This sudden loss of income creates challenges for meeting basic needs like housing, food, healthcare, and other essential expenses.

The impact extends beyond the individual workers to their families and local economies where these employees live and spend money. Recognizing these challenges, both private businesses and government agencies have implemented various assistance programs to help bridge the financial gap until regular pay resumes.

Restaurant and Food Industry Offers

Many restaurants and food establishments have stepped forward to provide meals at discounted rates or free of charge to furloughed federal workers. These offers typically require presentation of a valid federal government employee ID and are often limited to specific hours or locations.

Free Meals for Federal Workers

Several restaurants have committed to providing complimentary meals to furloughed employees:

• Jaleo by José Andrés offered a free Flauta de Jamón Serrano (Spanish sandwich) from 2 to 5 p.m. daily at its locations in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia during the shutdown period.

• Zaytinya provided a free Chicken Schwarma to federal employees with government identification from 2 to 5 p.m. daily at its D.C. location throughout the furlough.

• Smokin' This and That BBQ in Florence, Kentucky has been giving free meals to furloughed government workers since December 22, continuing through the end of the shutdown as announced on their Facebook page.

• The FruitGuys delivered fruit and vegetables to TSA workers at designated airports across the United States, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport on specific dates in late January.

Restaurant Discounts

In addition to complimentary meals, numerous restaurants have implemented significant discounts for federal employees:

• Boston's Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar offered 50 percent off in-restaurant food purchases at its two Texas locations and Waldorf, Maryland location for federal employees with valid government IDs until the shutdown concluded.

• Brickwall Tavern provided an escalating discount for federal workers with valid IDs, starting at 25 percent off food bills on January 15 and increasing each day through the end of the shutdown. The restaurant has locations in Asbury Park and Burlington, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

• Taco Cabana offered federal employees affected by the shutdown 20 percent off its entire menu, with a maximum savings of $20. The discount was valid at all participating locations for dine-in or drive-thru orders and was set to continue through the shutdown period unless otherwise announced.

• La Côte d'Or Café in Arlington, Virginia created a special discounted furlough menu for federal government employees who presented their government ID.

Retail and Service Industry Discounts

Beyond the food industry, numerous retailers and service providers have implemented special offers for federal employees experiencing financial hardship due to the shutdown.

Personal Care and Grooming Services

• Floyd's 99 Barbershops provided half-priced haircuts and free massage shampoos to furloughed workers across the nation until the end of the shutdown when government employees presented valid federal government IDs. Offers were available in Arizona, California (Los Angeles and Orange County), Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas (Houston and Austin) and Virginia.

Free Product Samples and Giveaways

• Kraft operated a pop-up grocery store called "Kraft Now Pay Later" at 1287 4th Street NE in Washington D.C., where current federal government workers with government IDs could take home a bag of Kraft Heinz products from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily while supplies lasted. Kraft requested that workers pay it forward by donating to their charity of choice or someone in need once financially able. By January 25, additional brands had joined the initiative, with the D.C. "store" also distributing Tropicana juices, Land O'Lakes butter, Oscar Mayer cold cuts, Capri Sun juice pouches, Fillo's American Made beans, and H&M winter clothing.

• Bark! Pawsitive Petfood offered a free bag of pet food to government employees with valid IDs at its eight Maryland locations.

• Great Harvest Bread Co. established "Shutdown Shelves" at more than 50 locations, giving away free bread to federal workers. The initiative began when Sarah Burtch, a Great Harvest franchisee in Lawrence, Kansas, started the idea, which subsequently spread to numerous other locations.

Entertainment and Recreation

• BAM Rose Cinemas at New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music allowed furloughed federal staffers to see the first show of the day of any film Monday through Thursday for free when they presented a federal employee ID at the box office.

• SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta offered furloughed federal employees two free beers when they showed their government ID.

Educational and Professional Services

• Too Cool Traffic School, which serves Florida, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin, offered free courses for furloughed government workers and their families.

• Daily Burn provided a 100-day free trial to U.S. federal employees impacted by the government shutdown, with an option for 50 percent off the next 12 months afterward.

Financial Assistance Programs

Beyond free meals and discounts, various organizations have established financial assistance programs specifically for federal employees affected by shutdowns.

Government and Non-Profit Assistance

• The FEEA-NARFE fund offered $100 grants to active federal employee members who were not receiving pay during the shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status, based on available funding. Applicants were required to complete a form and attach their furlough notice.

• The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act was signed into law, guaranteeing that furloughed federal employees and employees who worked without pay would be compensated once the shutdown ended.

• Federal employees were advised that they might be eligible for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

• The Office of Personnel Management provided sample letters that federal employees could send to creditors or mortgage lenders explaining their lapse of pay after first explaining the situation over the phone.

Military and Coast Guard Specific Assistance

• For U.S. Coast Guard personnel, the American Legion in conjunction with Coast Guard Mutual Assistance provided immediate financial support through the Legion's Temporary Financial Assistance program. Those seeking assistance were instructed to call (800) 504-4098 for more information.

Los Angeles Specific Resources

While many of the business offers mentioned above were not specifically located in Los Angeles, the city did have resources available to assist federal employees during shutdowns:

• The Los Angeles Food Bank provided assistance with food insecurity for Los Angeles County residents, including those affected by federal government shutdowns.

Federal employees in Los Angeles seeking additional assistance were encouraged to check with local businesses directly to inquire about any shutdown-specific offers, as many businesses implemented their own relief programs that might not have been widely publicized.

Telecommunications and Utility Assistance

Major telecommunications providers recognized the financial strain on federal employees during shutdowns and implemented assistance programs:

• AT&T stated that their customer service team would waive late fees, provide extensions, and coordinate with affected customers on revised payment schedules "as long as the shutdown is in effect."

• Other major wireless providers, including Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, also expressed willingness to work with affected government employees, though specific program details varied by company.

Application and Eligibility Requirements

Most business offers for federal employees during shutdowns required:

1. Presentation of a valid federal government employee ID
2. Verification of employment status (furloughed or working without pay)
3. Some offers were location-specific and required visiting participating establishments
4. Certain offers had time limitations (e.g., specific hours of operation)
5. Some programs required advance registration or verification through company websites

For financial assistance programs, requirements typically included:

1. Proof of federal employment
2. Documentation of furlough status or non-payment
3. Completion of application forms
4. Some programs had membership requirements (like FEEA-NARFE)
5. Many assistance programs were subject to funding availability

Duration and Continuation of Offers

Most business assistance programs during the 2018-2019 shutdown were designed to continue "until the shutdown ended" or "until furloughed workers are paid." However, some businesses indicated that their offers might continue even after the shutdown concluded until workers received their back pay.

The source material specifically noted that "Many businesses said their shutdown specials would end when the shutdown ended but some are expected to continue until furloughed workers are paid. Check with locations before heading out to confirm."

Conclusion

During government shutdowns, federal employees face significant financial challenges, but numerous businesses, organizations, and government agencies have established assistance programs to provide relief. These include free meals, restaurant discounts, free products, financial assistance, and modified payment arrangements. While specific offers vary by location and time period, the common thread is recognition of the hardship faced by federal workers during these periods.

For federal employees affected by shutdowns, it is important to: 1. Check with employers and agencies for official guidance on available assistance 2. Contact local businesses directly to inquire about shutdown-specific offers 3. Explore financial assistance programs through non-profit organizations and government agencies 4. Communicate with creditors about payment arrangements during the period of non-payment

As demonstrated by the various programs implemented during the 2018-2019 shutdown, there are resources available to help federal employees navigate the financial challenges of government shutdowns until regular pay resumes.

Sources

1. Businesses offer furlough freebies, shutdown specials and assistance to federal workers
2. Resources for workers during government shutdown
3. Nurse freebies during COVID-19