Thousands of federal workers are in Southern Oregon and Northern California which is why local agencies are stepping in to help those impacted by the shutdown.
“I can’t imagine as a family that, that being your sole support and losing all of it, that would be tough,” Executive director of United Way of Jackson County, Dee Anne Everson, said.
She’s heard countless stories of furloughed employees who are struggling to pay for gas, food, and medication they need.
“We had a man who needed to choose between iron or blood for his wife who is undergoing cancer treatments,” Everson said.
Those stories, in addition to the number of people in need, are the reasons why United Way is offering $300 in gift cards to Safeway and Fred Meyer. Those gift cards can cover necessary items like food, gas, and prescriptions.
“The hope chest is the United Ways emergency assistance fund,” Everson said. “Right now we’re reserving it for these furlough workers.”
Everson said they’ve helped over 70 people receive gift cards on Wednesday, amounting to over $20,000.
The funds, however, are running out. Everson is concerned that if the shutdown doesn’t end soon, tens of thousands of people will go hungry.
“We’re up against a real crisis for people in our community and we have to know that all of those are real and we have to get our government reopened,” Everson said.
If you would like to donate to the Hope Chest Fund, you can head to http://www.unitedwayofjacksoncounty.org/give/.
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