A government shutdown would have disastrous effects on the families we serve here in Northeastern NC, and create unnecessary hardships that will affect thousands for months.
We encourage you to contact your elected officials and share a collective voice that a government shutdown, for any reason, should not and cannot happen. Use the letter below to contact your representatives.
Dear Senator,
Food Bank of the Albemarle encourages Congress to prevent a federal government shutdown through passage of a federal spending bill or by continuing resolution. You have the power to prevent a tragedy of economic disaster for your constituents in Northeastern North Carolina and our nation.
A federal government shutdown will result in thousands of government employees being furloughed without pay; our civil servant employees are hit the hardest, as their pay will not be replaced. We saw this first-hand during the last government shutdown (the longest in US history) which began on December 22, 2018 lasting 35 days until a resolution on January 25, 2019.
In those 35 days, we saw a dramatic increase of our neighbors who suddenly found themselves in an unimaginable situation. Thousands were left stripped of their income, still reporting to work, and all the while wondering how they would feed themselves, and their families.
A government shutdown causes an unnecessary financial hardship for all in our communities. This includes over 2,000 members of the United States Coast Guard in our area who dedicate their lives to the service of our nation and its citizens, civil servants, as well as numerous government contract workers and their families. Bottom line: when you don’t get paid, you can’t buy groceries, pay for medication, rent, and utilities. A shutdown hurts everyone.
Food Bank of the Albemarle will serve all who come to us for food assistance. Currently, that is 1 in 7 of our neighbors in Northeastern North Carolina. I encourage you to do what is within your power to prevent a shutdown. The ramification of such an event would have a long-term effect on the constituents you represent.
