Livingston Residents and Businesses Give Back During Government Shutdown – TAPinto.net
LIVINGSTON, NJ — The government shutdown isn’t only affecting furloughed and essential federal employees, it is also affecting citizens who are finding it hard to sit back and watch as their neighbors suffer. More than a month into the shutdown, area residents and businesses are coming up with unique ways to show their support.
Heidi Blum, owner of Heid Blum Fitness, has offered to cook a family dinner and give “a kickass workout to relieve the stress” for anyone “not getting paid tomorrow because of the shutdown.”
“It takes a village,” Blum wrote on Facebook, encouraging anyone interested to call her at 973-951-3762.
“I had someone reach out to me that said he appreciated my offer and that it was nice knowing there were people out there like me that supported them,” said Blum.
Fellow Livingston resident Jamie Karlin Kaplan, owner of JKP Photographers, has also made an attempt to reach any local families affected by the government shutdown who are looking for something fun to do. She indicated that she’d like to donate a skydiving voucher for some “frivolous fun.”
Some local businesses and service organizations are also offering assistance to furloughed and essential federal employees during the government shutdown, including RWJBarnabas Health, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges, the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry and Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN) and the CHOW Food Pantry.
Earlier this week, RWJBarnabas Health offered a “waiver of co-pays, deductibles and additional eligible patient care balances for furloughed employees and their dependents.”
Board of Trustees Chair Jack Morris and Barry Ostrowsky, president and chief executive officer, announced that the health system would waive co-pays, deductibles and additional eligible patient care balances for furloughed federal employees and their dependents at all system hospitals, ambulatory facilities and owned physician practices. They added that this action would apply to all inpatient, outpatient, emergency and ambulatory-based care provided by RWJBarnabas Health, and the waiver will be discontinued upon federal employees returning to their pre-shutdown employment status.
“We recognize the financial hardship being experienced by these families, because they are our neighbors and friends – they live in the communities we serve each day,” said Morris.
In addition to waiving payments due for care provided during the government shutdown, any payments that these same workers may be obligated to make to the health system on past visits will be deferred until their wages are reinstated. The waiver has been made available to all federal employees and dependents who provide proof of federal employment upon receiving a bill.
“We are an organization that is committed to not just delivering health care but improving the health of those we serve,” said Ostrowsky. “Affordability is a key factor in whether families can access care, and we believe that our action today can help alleviate some of the pressures these furloughed federal workers are currently facing.”
The seven branches of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges—which includes the East Orange YMCA in East Orange; Fairview Lake YMCA Camps in Stillwater; the South Mountain YMCA in Maplewood; the Sussex County YMCA in Hardyston; the Wayne YMCA in Wayne; the West Essex YMCA in Livingston; and the YMCA of Greater Bergen County in Hackensack—are also extending support to those impacted by the shutdown.
Any federal government employee who is not being paid due to the government shutdown is welcome to use the West Essex YMCA’s facilities free of charge. The YMCA is offering federal employees a free one-month membership and waiving joiner fees, and those who already are YMCA members will have their next month’s membership fee waived.
More information on the Y’s outreach to local families in need can be found HERE.
West Orange resident Cynthia Cumming, who runs the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry, posted a reminder on the pantry’s Facebook page to let government employees on furlough know that the pantry is available to them. The post said that they just need to bring their ID cards to the panty that is located at 315 Main Street. The pantry is located by Washington school, and those interested are invited to enter the space via the red door on the Franklin Avenue side.
According to Cumming, donations are always welcome. Those interested in learning more are invited to contact her at 201-341-9217.
Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN), which runs Livingston’s Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) food panty, is offering assistance to anyone furloughed in Livingston, but according to Stacey Rubinstein, no one has asked for help. However, they are continuing to feed existing families.
“For families living paycheck to paycheck, the government shutdown is devastating,” LNHN posted on its Facebook page. “Please remember LNHN is here to help Livingston residents and all assistance is confidential. We offer food through the CHOW pantry, grocery store gift cards and one-time emergency financial assistance for a needed expense. Financial assistance requires screening by township social worker and need must be confirmed. And special thanks to all of our generous supporters who make this possible.”
Through the generosity of the community, the CHOW Food Pantry helps more than 35 Livingston families and currently supports 27 children, according to the Facebook page.
Anyone with the ability to donate food items, including kids’ snacks, fruit cups, juice boxes, detergent toilet paper, paper towels is welcome to donate. Food can be dropped at the collection box at Town Hall (by the elevator), the public library, the community center, the town dance building or the West Essex Tribune office. Monetary donations for grocery gift cards and are welcome and can be made via the group’s Facebook page.
Another local resident, Karren Shuffler, a resident of Chester and Maplewood native, also took to Facebook to spread the word about giving back to TSA workers. Shuffler recently discovered that TSA workers cannot accept cash gifts, including Visa and Mastercard gift certificates, but they can accept gift cards for specific stores in amounts less than $20.
“If you are heading to the airport while this shutdown is still on, maybe you could pick up some gift cards and use them as tips for the TSA workers,” she said.
Shuffler’s later posted on Facebook a series of photos of featuring Rite Aid gift cards with the words “You Matter!” addressed to TSA employees.
Her post said, “All set to travel this week. I’ve got my ‘You Matter” cards and gift cards for TSA workers, who are showing up to work, despite no pay.”
“I’m glad I can do something for fellow Americans who show up and do their job without getting paid,” said Shuffler. “These are people who are protecting us. This is some small gesture that I can do now to show my appreciation.”
To read more about what area residents are doing to help those in need during the shutdown, click HERE.