During significant government shutdowns, such as the extended period referenced in January 2019, a variety of businesses and organizations across the United States have historically stepped forward to offer support to furloughed federal employees. These initiatives often take the form of complimentary meals, discounted services, waived fees, and essential goods. The availability of these offers generally relies on the presentation of valid federal employee identification and is frequently limited to specific geographic areas or timeframes. The following is a comprehensive summary of the types of assistance programs that have been documented during these periods, based on historical data regarding the 2019 shutdown.
Dining and Restaurant Offers
One of the most immediate forms of assistance provided during government shutdowns comes from the restaurant and hospitality sector. Various dining establishments have offered free meals, "buy one, get one" deals, and other incentives to help affected workers save on food costs.
New York City and Tri-State Area In New York City, a coalition of restaurants and hospitality groups organized significant support. Simple Venue, a hospitality company, launched the "Funbars Government Meal Plan," offering free meals across its properties. This included free breakfast juice at Juice Shop stores, free lunch at Sushi by Bou in Flatiron, and free entrées with a Bud Light draft at Sidebar in Union Square. Participation required affected employees to email [email protected] or call a specific number.
Other specific New York City offers included: * SideBAR: Free entrée and a Bud Light draft for dinner at the Union Square location. * Brother Jimmy’s: Free lunch for federal employees at Murray Hill and 8th Avenue locations. * Melba's Restaurant: A free sit-down meal in Harlem. * Rocco’s Tacos: A $20 one-time credit at locations in Florida or New York for furloughed employees showing proper identification. * Bar 169: A free beer between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on "Pay It Furloughed Day." * Potbelly Sandwich Shop: A buy-one-get-one free sandwich deal for government workers with ID.
National Chains and Regional Offers Several national chains extended offers to federal workers nationwide. Fazoli’s invited furloughed employees to receive a free Pizza Baked Spaghetti with the purchase of a regular-size or larger drink. Carrabba's Italian Grill offered a free order of lasagne or spaghetti to take home with the purchase of a signature dish. Romano’s Macaroni Grill provided a complimentary Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs + Spaghetti entrée.
Brickwall Tavern, with locations in Asbury Park and Burlington, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, offered a percentage discount on food bills that increased each day of the shutdown, starting at 25 percent.
Stouffer’s, a frozen food company, gave away frozen meals at its Solon, Ohio headquarters for a specific day.
Community Kitchens and Food Banks Beyond commercial restaurants, community-focused organizations provided essential food support. The Food Bank For New York City partnered with Barclays Center and Stop & Shop to host pop-up distributions providing food and vital products. Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens distributed grocery packages and fresh produce. In Toms River, New Jersey, The People’s Pantry and JBJ Soul Kitchen offered open hours and lunch services for federal employees.
Health and Wellness Services
Healthcare providers and fitness centers also stepped in to alleviate financial burdens associated with medical care and wellness routines.
Healthcare Fee Waivers Hackensack Meridian Health received significant media coverage for waiving co-pays and deductibles for furloughed federal workers. This initiative specifically covered emergency care, aiming to ensure that lack of insurance payment due to missed paychecks did not prevent access to necessary medical treatment. This policy was noted across various New Jersey-based news outlets.
Fitness and Wellness In New York City, Brrrn, a fitness studio offering a "cool temperature fitness experience," provided one free class to federal employees affected by the shutdown.
Entertainment and Leisure
To provide a respite from financial stress, several entertainment venues offered free or discounted admission and viewing experiences.
Museums Major New York City museums offered free admission to federal employees and guests during the shutdown period: * The Met (Fifth Avenue, Breuer, and The Cloisters): Free admission for federal employees and one guest. * The Museum at Eldrige Street: Free admission for furloughed federal employees and three guests, extending the offer to employees residing in all U.S. states and territories.
Cinemas and Theaters * BAM Rose Cinemas: The Brooklyn Academy of Music movie theater allowed furloughed federal staffers to see the first show of the day for free from Monday through Thursday, upon presenting a federal employee ID. * Broadway Shows: While specific show names were not detailed in the source material, general reports indicated that free Broadway show tickets were available to affected workers.
Utility and Telecommunications Assistance
Assistance extended beyond food and entertainment to essential services like utilities and mobile phone coverage.
Utility Support The Newark, NJ Utilities Fund provided compensation up to $200 to assist residents, including furloughed workers, with reactivating utility services that had been shut off or were at risk. To qualify, residents had to document potential or actual utility shut-offs and visit the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness office.
Mobile and Internet Services * T-Mobile: The company instructed customers to contact Customer Care to discuss available options, implying flexibility or assistance programs for those affected by the shutdown. * Community Phone: This Boston-based company offered a "full contract free year of unlimited everything" to furloughed federal employees in Massachusetts. Additionally, it offered a free $100 of credit for a no-contract, no-credit-card-required service to furloughed employees in all states.
Hotel and Travel Accommodations
For federal employees needing to travel for personal emergencies or other reasons during the shutdown, the Hotel Association of New York City offered free hotel rooms. This initiative was designed to assist workers who needed to be in the city for urgent matters but faced financial constraints due to missed paychecks.
Conclusion
The response to government shutdowns involves a diverse network of businesses and organizations offering critical support to furloughed federal employees. From complimentary meals and grocery packages to waived healthcare co-pays and free entertainment, these programs provide temporary relief during periods of financial uncertainty. Eligibility typically requires valid federal employee identification, and offers are often limited to specific dates, locations, or participating brands. Consumers are advised to verify current availability and terms directly with the offering organizations, as such programs are frequently time-sensitive and subject to change.