"Beer makes everything better," organizers said – and for furloughed workers who need more than a beer, there are other ways to get support
About 800,000 federal workers haven’t seen a paycheck since December 22, and one organization is hoping to relieve some of their stress by collecting donations. Donations of free beer, that is.
“Pay It Furloughed” allows people to buy a beer for a furloughed worker in the Washington, D. C. area. “Beer makes everything better, so we’re buying local craft brews for federal employees impacted by the government shutdown,” the website reads.
Those who would like to donate to can buy one beer at $7.50 or a full six-pack for $45 from one of four participating bars in Washington, D. C. Any federal employee or contractor over the age of 21 can visit the bar with their ID and receive a free beer. Over 1,600 beers have been bought by donors so far, though the site says only 157 have been claimed as of Wednesday afternoon. Furloughed workers in D. C. are invited to claim one of the remaining free beers.
For the hundreds of thousands of workers who need more practical support during the shutdown, there are several legitimate charities working to help those in need.
The Capital Area Food Bank, which operates in the Washington, D. C., area, hosted five pop-up food pantry locations after federal workers flooded the organization’s “Hunger Lifeline” with calls for help, according to the organization’s president and CEO Radha Muthiah.
