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Local efforts aid federal workers during shutdown

With no end in sight for the partial shutdown of the federal government, the local United Way is joining with United Way Worldwide to form a United for U.S. coalition with their corporate partners, organized labor, the United Way network and nonprofits to offer help to government workers until they return to work.

For those federal workers in need of assistance, the first step is to call 211, according to Ronald Frick, president of the Lycoming County United Way and a partner in PA211.

By calling that number, residents are connected with trained caseworkers to provide them with information about local social services, such as the availability of public benefits and corporate assistance programs.

“Our United Way has a history of partnering with organizations in our community to find the right resources at the right time and this time is no different,” Frick said.

For example, Frick noted, people might call and say they need help paying their rent; they would then be referred to the American Rescue Workers or to Family Promise, which is offering their Rent Match program to furloughed federal workers.

Although the local United Way has no data as yet on the number of federal workers the shutdown has affected within its three-county service area, Frick said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at Williamsport Regional Airport as well as employees at nearby federal prisons could be impacted. Federal employees received $0 in their paychecks last Friday; this is the first week on the job without being paid.

One United Way partner that has stepped up to help is the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which announced food assistance services to federal government employees and their families in need because of the shutdown. Services will be offered locally at the Williamsport Hub, 3301 Wahoo Drive on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., beginning this week. The food bank also is working with partner agencies to add additional service sites. Furloughed federal workers can visit as often as they want during those times until the shutdown ends.

“We are mobilizing to make sure nobody impacted goes hungry due to this shutdown,” said Joe Arthur, executive director of the food bank.

“Our 27-county service territory includes almost 25,000 federal worker – a portion of whom will not receive paychecks during the shutdown,” he added.

The food bank will provide an array of food to each recipient household including fresh milk, eggs, vegetables, frozen meats and nutritious shelf-stable food. In order to receive support, workers will need to produce workplace identification.

Arthur also noted the potential exists of a “downstream funding effect” for some state and local government employees and private contractors to be at risk if the shutdown continues.

“Both Joe (Arthur) and I hope that the government will be fully funded very soon so American families are not struggling to support their families, but working with other partners in our communities,” Frick said.

He stressed that the United Way’s involvement is not political.

“Our goal is to help people,” he added.

Instructions for accessing Federal Shutdown food assistance are located on the food bank’s website at www.centralpafoodbank.org and through a recorded message at 717-547-6336.

The American Rescue Workers in Williamsport is also offering help for furloughed federal workers having trouble meeting basic needs.

“We know that there are hundreds of families and individuals in our community struggling to make ends meet, and with the government shutdown now there are even more individuals and families struggling in our community than before,” said Gary Shipman, Social Services Director. “With this in mind, we have ordered extra food from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to distribute at our Social Services Center to compensate for the additional people seeking resources.”

In addition the nonprofit also is offering many assistance programs, such as, rental assistance, utility assistance, assistance with groceries and even assistance with mortgage payments. Contact Shipman for assistance at 337 Bridge St. Williamsport from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For any questions call (570) 323-8401 ext. 112 or ext. 121.

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