North Charleston, South Carolina – Many federal employees are missing their second paycheck as the government shutdown ends, leading community organizations around the Lowcountry to organize food drives for affected families.
The North Charleston Community Resource Center and the Charleston Labor Council are leading efforts to send care packages containing chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, and nonperishables to federal workers who continue to labor without pay.
“We are receiving phone calls and emails after emails. A federal employee says, ‘I don’t have. “I don’t know where to turn,” April Lott, president of the Charleston Labor Council, said.
As the need increases, so does the community’s reaction.
Organizations are collecting food contributions by the truckload as government employees struggle to keep up with grocery bills while performing their duties at locations such as the airport.
Food banks are already overburdened due to the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program subsidies. Banks throughout the Lowcountry are working to alleviate as much food and financial uncertainty as they can.
Lott explained that organizations wanted to design something exclusively for government workers.
“The loss of SNAP payments has put a strain on many food banks. But we wanted to do something special for our federal workers to show them that their town supports them as much as we do,” Lott added.
The Charleston Labor Council has previously hosted food drives with lines wrapping around the building to assist those affected by the loss of SNAP benefits. Lott anticipates that 500 to 600 federal employees will seek aid based solely on phone calls and emails.
How to provide and receive aid
Residents can drop off food at the Community Resource Center until the end of the day Thursday. Volunteers can help deliver meals beginning Friday at noon.
Federal employees requesting assistance should bring their personal verification card and be prepared to line up by 4 p.m. Friday, when the doors open for distribution. The Community Resource Center hopes to assist every worker that lines up, but will keep their doors open until all boxes are gone.
“It’s been mentally crushing for a lot of people, but we remember what we do and we remember that we’re here to help the public and that’s why you have federal workers that show up every day to do the work,” Lott told the audience. “Yes, sadly come paycheck there’s nothing there, but this is the community’s opportunity.”
Government employees will not all receive compensation or backpay right away; payments will be made gradually when government operations return to normal, according to officials. The timeline varies depending on the agency.
