During a government shutdown, many federal employees in the Chicago metropolitan area face financial uncertainty due to delayed paychecks. In response, a variety of local businesses, food banks, and cultural institutions have stepped forward to provide support. These organizations offer free meals, discounted groceries, and complimentary admissions to help furloughed workers and their families navigate the economic challenges. Eligibility for these offers typically requires a valid federal government ID, and availability may be subject to specific terms and time constraints.
Restaurant and Food Service Offers
Several Chicago-area restaurants have established programs to provide free or discounted meals to federal employees affected by the shutdown.
Smack Dab Chicago Located at 6730 N. Clark St. in Chicago, Smack Dab Chicago offers free meals to affected employees and their children. Employees can present a government ID to receive breakfast or lunch during the week. On weekends, the offer is valid for dinner. The meal includes an entree, a pastry, and a beverage, with vegan and vegetarian options available.
Cellar Door Provisions Cellar Door Provisions, at 3025 W. Diversey Ave. in Chicago, provides breakfast or lunch to anyone with a government ID. This offer is available "while supplies last."
Doc's Smokehouse Doc's Smokehouse operates three locations: 19081 Old Lagrange Road #1051420 in Mokena, 1420 Calumet Ave. in Dyer, Indiana, and 754 Vel R. Phillips Ave. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At all locations, government employees with a valid ID can receive a free pulled pork sandwich, chips, and a non-alcoholic drink.
Manzo's Burger Manzo's Burger, located at 2353 W. 111th St. in Chicago, offers a 50 percent discount on the entire bill to anyone who presents a valid federal ID.
Horse Thief Hollow Craft Brewery Horse Thief Hollow Craft Brewery at 10426 S. Western Ave. in Chicago provides a free lunch up to a $15 value. This offer is valid from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. until Friday, January 18, for government employees with a valid ID. The offer excludes alcohol.
Porkchop BBQ Porkchop BBQ has two Chicago locations: 1017 S. Delano Court and 1516 E. Harper Court. The restaurant offers a 50 percent discount on the entire bill for government workers and their families who show a valid ID.
Cà Phê Đá Cà Phê Đá, located at 1800 ½ S. Carpenter St. in Chicago, serves a free Vietnamese "Worker's Meal." The meal consists of protein, vegetables, and rice and is available to single diners with a valid government ID from 10:00 a.m. until close.
Protein Bar Protein Bar has multiple locations, including 11 in Chicago, as well as spots in Schaumburg (896 N. Meacham Road) and Oak Brook (2040 York Road). The chain offers a 50 percent discount on an entree to anyone with a valid government ID from Tuesday through Sunday.
Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery In suburban Flossmoor, Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery (1035 Sterling Ave.) gives away a free lunch up to a $15 value to furloughed employees. Additionally, workers can purchase a 12-ounce craft beer for $2. This deal is available daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and requires a federal identification card.
The Second City The Second City's full-service restaurant and bar, located at 230 W. North Ave, 2nd Floor, Chicago, offers a free meal (up to a $15 value) and a non-alcoholic beverage to furloughed federal workers with a valid government ID.
Food Bank and Grocery Assistance
Food banks and community organizations in the Chicago area provide essential groceries to furloughed federal employees.
Care for Real Care for Real, at 5339 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago, offers staple food items such as meat, dairy, and canned fruits and vegetables to furloughed employees who present their federal ID. Employees may pick up staples once a month and fresh produce and bakery items up to four times a week. Food distribution occurs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Lakeview Pantry Lakeview Pantry, located at 3945 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago, provides two weeks' worth of groceries for free to government employees who show a valid ID during the shutdown. Food distribution is available from noon to 7:00 p.m. Another source indicates the pantry is open to all federal employees affected by the shutdown. The pantry's phone number is 773-525-1777.
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services program provides meals for TSA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at O'Hare and Midway airports daily for all three shifts during the shutdown. The contact number is 773-725-1100.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository The Greater Chicago Food Depository supplies Cook County's food pantries. During the shutdown, it brought cases of food and $25 Jewel-Osco gift cards to the TSA's administrative offices near Midway for employees to pick up on Thursday, January 24. The organization also organized food distribution for prison workers, Coast Guard workers, and TSA workers at O'Hare. The contact number is 773-247-3663.
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry The Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry offers a week's worth of groceries to any federal worker in need of aid. The contact number is 708-386-1324.
West Deerfield Township West Deerfield Township, located at 601 Deerfield Road in Deerfield, offers food and other assistance to furloughed workers. The contact number is 847-945-0614.
Moraine Township Moraine Township, located at 800 Central Avenue in Highland Park, offers food and other assistance to furloughed workers.
Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst The Kiwanis Club in Elmhurst is expanding its Food for Thought program to cover families affected by the government shutdown. The club donates lunch money to children in need at Elmhurst schools.
Cultural and Entertainment Discounts
Cultural institutions in Chicago are offering free admissions and discounted tickets to federal workers.
Adler Planetarium The Adler Planetarium, located at 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, offers two free admissions to any federal workers with an ID.
Lincoln Park Zoo Lincoln Park Zoo, located at Stockton and Webster drives, offers free parking to federal workers affected by the shutdown. Workers can show an ID Card at the Searle Visitor Center to receive a parking pass. Admission to the zoo is free for the general public. The zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo, located at 8400 W. 31st St. in Brookfield, offers free general admission to federal employees with an ID. However, parking fees and admission fees for other family members still apply.
Lyric Opera of Chicago The Lyric Opera of Chicago, located at 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive, offers discounted $10 tickets to the 2:00 p.m. performance of "La Boheme" on January 29. Federal employees affected by the shutdown can get the discounted tickets by showing their identification cards at the box office window two hours before the show starts.
WDNR Museum Federal employees can visit the WDNR Museum for free with one guest through January if they show a valid government ID. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Financial and Government Assistance
In addition to direct aid from businesses and organizations, state-level financial assistance was made available during the shutdown.
Illinois State Loans Illinois offered $100 million in state funds to finance low-interest or interest-free loans to federal workers going without pay. Eligible federal employees could visit participating banks for these loans. This initiative was announced by Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker and Treasurer Michael Frerichs.
MyFEDBenefits Shutdown Assistance Map The MyFEDBenefits Shutdown Assistance Map by State was collected as an additional resource for affected workers.
US Employee Credit Union The US Employee Credit Union provided a "Skip a Payment Form" for customers.
Healthcare and Payment Deferment
Other resources collected by AFGE Local 704 included information on healthcare coverage and payment deferment.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) BCBS provided information on the continuation of Federal Employee Program (FEP) coverage during the government shutdown, confirming that FEP members would receive their healthcare coverage.
United Consumer Financial Services United Consumer Financial Services notified customers that they would work with individuals who contact them regarding payment deferment.
Conclusion
During the government shutdown, a network of support emerged for furloughed federal workers in the Chicago area. This support spans from essential needs like free meals and groceries to cultural and entertainment discounts. The offers detailed in this article require proof of federal employment, typically in the form of a valid government ID, and many are subject to specific timeframes or supply limitations. Affected employees are encouraged to contact the specific venues or organizations directly to confirm current offer details and availability.