The 2018-2019 Government Shutdown is a difficult time for the 800,000 Federal Employees that are currently out of pay. It is imperative that we stay strong during this time. It is equally important that we share as much information as possible to maintain that strength. We’ve dove into all the articles that we could find to provide the resources necessary to withstand this time. We hope that our list will help our colleagues, our friends, and our family.

Specific Opportunities

1. Chop’t is offering a free warm bowl from 6 pm to 8 pm, 1/16-1/18 with Federal ID.
2. Kraft Food Pop-Up (1287 4th St NE), Jan 16 to 20th – a free bag of groceries with Federal ID

Ongoing Opportunities

Free Meals

1. World Central Kitchen – Starting Wednesday, Jan. 16, Chef José Andrés will offer a rotating menu of free sandwiches, soups, and salads inside his ThinkFoodLab space at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW for those with government IDs.
   1. The kitchen will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
2. Get a free sandwich every day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at José Andrés’ restaurants. Options include chicken shawarma at Zaytinya, jamón serrano at Jaleo, and pulled pork at America Eats Tavern. Oyamel, China Chilcano, and Beefsteak are also participating
3. Metro’s union ATU Local 689 is offering free meals to furloughed workers and their families between noon and 6 p.m. on weekdays at ATU International headquarters in Silver Spring at the Tommy Douglas Conference Center, which has free parking and is accessible by bus.
4. Carmine’s: 425 7th Street NW The “Hard Times Cocktail” ($6) and happy hour menu are offered all day at the bar for the duration of the shutdown. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, show a government ID and get an order of meatball sliders on the house.
5. El Centro D.F.: Multiple locations Richard Sandoval’s Mexican chain is offering free guacamole or a house margarita to government workers still waiting for a paycheck.
6. Kramerbooks: 1517 Connecticut Avenue NW The cafe offers a free dessert or appetizer to those with a government ID on weekdays.
7. &pizza: All D.C. locations Free pies for federal employees between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the shutdown.
8. Ri Ra Georgetown: 3125 M Street NW  The Irish eatery is handing a free shepherds pie to affected government workers with an ID.
9. Supra: 1205 11th Street NW Federal workers can get one free happy hour menu item with the purchase of any wine, beer, cocktail, or Georgian soft drink. Happy hour during the shutdown is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
10. Taco Bamba 777 I Street NW The Chinatown location is offering one free traditional taco to furloughed workers.
11. Charlie Palmer Steak (101 Constitution Ave NW) – Free chicken sandwich with Federal ID; add fries and a beer for $12 (lunch guests at the bar only)
12. Selva 606 Florida Avenue NW El Techo’s winter pop-up, Selva, is running a “#NachoWall” special: guests with a valid federal government ID will receive a free heaping plate of chicken, rib, OG, or veggie nachos with any purchase of $10 or more between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday to Thursday while the shutdown lingers.
13. Fazoli’s is offering a free pizza baked spaghetti with the purchase of a drink (with Federal ID) through Jan 20
14. Peri Peri Original 6456 Old Beulah St., Alexandria Anyone with a federal government ID can get a free chicken or beef burger, with the option of adding free fries or a soda, available until the shutdown ends.

Free Coffee/Sweets

1. Baked by Yael (3000 Connecticut Ave. NW) is not only offering federal employees and contractors free coffee throughout the shutdown, but it’s also hosting free cake pop-making classes. There are many classes scheduled, and you can check times and register for them here.
2. District Doughnuts is offering free coffee
3. Gregorys: Multiple locations All four D.C. locations are handing a free 12-ounce beverage of any type — not including smoothies — to government employees with IDs.
4. Junction Bakery & Bistro: 1718, 1508 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia Guests with a valid federal government ID can perk up with a free 12-ounce cup of drip coffee at the Del Ray bakery and café.
5. Free chocolate bar with Federal ID at Ten Thousand Villages (915 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
6. Free cupcake with Federal ID at Lavender Moon Cupcakery every Tuesday (116 S Royal St, Alexandria, VA 22314)

Food Banks

1. Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Lifeline:
   1. (202) 644-9807.
   2. The bank distributes food to over 400 food assistance programs in the D.C. area, and the lifeline can direct those in need to the closest program. Some offer groceries, while others provide free meals.
2. Starting Monday, Jan. 14, Bread for the City will provide a five-day supply of groceries to furloughed federal employees and federal contractors currently out of work because of the shutdown.
   1. Bread for the City accepts food donations at both their Northwest (1525 7th St. NW) and Southeast (1640 Good Hope Road SE) locations.
3. Martha’s Table offers free fresh produce and pantry items every day at Martha’s Table Markets. There are markets in Barry Farm and U St-Cardozo, and you can visit each location once a month.
4. Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in upper Northwest has a food pantry every Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Call ahead to make sure they’ve still got supplies because the church has run out of food in weeks past.
5. So Others Might Eat offers a food pantry at 7:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It serves the first ten people each morning, and people can come twice a month.

Bars

1. The Midlands Beer Garden (3333 Georgia Ave. NW) will open at noon Mondays through Fridays serving $5 Irish coffees all day, plus BOGO on all local draft beer until 7 p.m. There’s also free wifi, in case you’re searching for a new job.
2. Toki Underground 1234 H Street NE The longtime ramen bar is offering a free “Off the Wall” cocktail, with food purchase, for all federal employees. The drink features vodka, grapefruit, simple syrup, and bitter orange.
3. Schlow Restaurant Group (Multiple locations) Each Michael Schlow restaurant created a special drink tied to the shutdown, and the first glass is free for government employees with ID. There’s an “overflowing” prosecco at Alta Strada DC; rum punch at Tico; a glass of sake at Nama; a warm “Mulling With You” winter cocktail at The Riggsby; and Casolare’s play on a White Russian, called “Treason To Believe,” with Russian Imperial Vodka donated by Lanterna. The drinks are also $5 for all.
4. Little Havana 3704 14th Street NW Show your government ID and get half off all drinks every day until the shutdown is over at the colorful Cuban respite.
5. Commissary 1443 P Street NW Bottomless Mondays are now a thing every day of the work week, which means endless mimosas and Bloody Marys for $15.
6. Free beers at multiple bars (with Federal ID) as part of the Pay it Furloughed program.
7. Hula Girl Truck 4044 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia Furloughed government employees can show their ID to get a free beer and a burger at the bar during happy hour, which runs Monday to Friday 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
8. Duplex Diner 2004 18th St. NW Duplex Diner is offering furloughed feds a free Monday meal and a glass of wine. Bring your ID or business card.

Pets

1. Your pet can get food assistance, too. The DC Pet Pantry is here to help Washingtonians who bring proof of their residency to the pantry.
2. Bark! is offering a free bag of food to anyone with a Federal ID at any of their 8 Maryland locations.

Entertainment

1. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is offering feds 15 percent off seats to its upcoming run of BLKS, opening Feb. 4, with the online code SHUTDOWN.
2. Arena Stage is offering federal workers 40 percent off tickets to its upcoming run of Kleptocracy, opening Jan. 18, with the online code GVT40.
3. Studio Theatre is offering feds 20 percent off tickets to its production of Admissions, opening Jan. 16, with the online code DCisOPEN.
4. Signature Theatre will present an exceptional performance of its upcoming Judy Garland cabaret for government workers (military and civilian) only on Jan. 23.
5. Herndon’s NextStop Theatre is offering furloughed workers 50 percent off weeknight tickets to its production of [title of show], running through Jan. 27, with the online code FED19.
6. Check out free shows on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage every day at 6 p.m.
7. Free admittance with Federal ID to Madame Tussaud’s DC wax museum.
8. Free admittance with Federal ID to the Woodrow Wilson House.
9. Free admittance with Federal ID to the Lincoln Presidential Cabin.
10. Free Key to the Museum Pass from the Alexandria Visitor’s Center with Federal ID.
11. Free admittance with Federal ID to Phillip’s Collection.
12. Free admittance with Federal ID to the Newseum.
13. B&O Railroad Museum 901 W. Pratt St., Baltimore Show your federal ID for free admission during the shutdown.
14. National Building Museum 401 F St. NW Federal employees can show their ID for free admission until the shutdown is over.
15. Harlem Globetrotters. Federal employees can show their ID at their local box office to receive two complimentary game tickets to their 2019 Fan Powered North American Tour.  

Fitness

1. Active Life DC has a running list of free D.C.-area workouts, a handy bookmark year-round.
2. Balance Gym is offering free workouts from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, to those with a valid federal employee ID. Balance has locations in Glover Park, Foggy Bottom, Capitol Hill, and Thomas Circle.
3. The Bar Method DC-Bethesda-North Potomac is offering two weeks of unlimited classes for new and lapsed clients for $39 with code shutdown, redeemable at any of their three DC area studios.
4. Crunch Fitness offers regular one-day free passes.
5. 202strong, the strength and circuit training gym in D.C. and Maryland, is offering a free first class and up to five courses for $5 for clients with a government ID.
6. Elevate Interval Fitness is offering two free off-peak classes per week to furloughed government employees and contractors. Anyone interested will need to email manager Laura Nichols at LauraN@elevateintervalfitness.com for availability.
7. Sweat DC 3232 Georgia Ave. NW, Suite 105 All furloughed employees are offered a free two-week pass. This Petworth studio is known for 45-minute, high-intensity core-cardio-strength classes. The Sweat Strong class uses higher levels of equipment, more dynamic moves and offers more one-on-one attention.
8. RYDE Cycle 1025 N. Fillmore St., Suite J, Arlington For the duration of the government shutdown, the rhythm-based cycling studio in Clarendon is offering free 5:30 p.m. classes Monday through Thursday for those with a federal ID and also offering free shoe rentals for all classes for those with a federal ID.

Other Resources

1. Bishops 1742 Connecticut Ave. NW Furloughed federal workers can get free haircuts.

Help with Utilities

1. Pepco is reminding customers in need of utility assistance that they can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides grants based on a household’s income size, type of fuel, and type of dwelling. D.C. residents can apply online through the Department of Energy and the Environment. Maryland residents can apply through the Department of Human Services website, visiting a Local Energy Assistance Office, or calling Maryland’s Office of Home Energy Programs at 1-800-332-6347.
2. Also available for D.C. residents: the Utility Discount Program (UDP), which assists eligible D.C. residents with utility costs up to $475 annually, or the Greater Washington Urban League, which provides up to $500 in assistance to qualified customers facing disconnection.

Banks offering financial help:

1. Navy Fed is providing 0% APR loans to furloughed employees that qualify
   1. https://www.navyfederal.org/about/government-shutdown.php
2. Penfed is offering skip payment, loans or direct deposit assistance
   1. https://www.penfed.org/frequently-asked-questions/assistance
3. Chase is providing help with car loans, credit cards, and mortgages
   1. https://media.chase.com/news/customers-affected-by-government-shutdown

Additional Lists of Resources

Washington City Paper list of resources:

https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/article/21039955/the-dc-guide-to-the-201819-government-shutdown?fbclid=IwAR2yi563goWHM249K_0uLnrGtQpia1nZo8T6Pe38XExXieaDd6v7uV14Qek

Furloughed Employees-Help for Pets

https://wjla.com/news/local/furloughed-federal-workers-with-pets-can-get-help-from-dc-pet-pantry

D.C. Restaurants With Government Shutdown Specials for Furloughed Employees – Eater DC https://dc.eater.com/2019/1/7/18172668/shutdown-furlough-specials-dc

Random deals in Alexandria: https://www.visitalexandriava.com/openforbusiness/#deals

https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/Deals-Freebies-Around-DC-for-the-Government-Shutdown-503388551.html?fbclid=IwAR0mHGuw1yZZ-_ozQVon-dK86wAv5APnzqR4PGxdWs9GdbgLf1jLDzCtRnY

Local News in Washington, DC

https://wtop.com/local/2019/01/shutdown-specials-dc-restaurants-offer-deals-to-furloughed-government-workers/

Local Deals for Federal Employees Based in Atlanta

https://atlanta.eater.com/2019/1/15/18183502/atlanta-restaurants-food-deals-furloughed-workers-government-shutdown

We the 800k, serve our country as public servants do. We passionately provide our life’s work to enhancing, protecting, and growing our great country. It is humbling and encouraging, to see that our hard work does go noticed. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of this vast list of businesses, restaurants, and various brands! We thank you for stepping up to the plate and often offering a plate!