Imagine you work for the Federal government because you thought it was a secure job and a way to make a good living for your family. Imagine you are the sole support for your family while your husband goes to college. Imagine your child needs a prescription. Imagine you’re going to work again today and not being paid again.
Imagine your family is actually hungry. Imagine you’re walking to work because you can’t afford the gas any more. It’s not that far and you can walk the four miles and then you stand most of the day. Imagine you’re a single mom and you can’t afford diapers. Imagine you’ve never had to ask for help. Imagine you have cancer and you can’t afford the blood or iron you need this week. Don’t imagine, it’s real. These are the stories we’re hearing this week and last.
United Way of Jackson County has stepped up to offer $300 Safeway and Fred Meyer cards that help to cover food, gas, diapers and prescriptions through our Hope Chest fund. We’re not alone in this community doing this work. There are many others helping furloughed workers. Now’s the time to step up and give to those providing emergency services. And when the Food Project rolls around in February, give two bags, not just one. Because regardless of the fact if this is settled, we have a lot of hungry people in our community. And if it’s not settled, we’ll have more than 40,000 hungry people because SNAP won’t be funded.
Call your representatives. It’s time to solve this shutdown. I don’t care what side you’re on. Just call them. Here are Oregon’s representatives and their phone numbers.
The White House email contact page: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office
Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3753
Fax: (202) 228-3997
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate
Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C., 20510
P: (202) 224-5244
F: (202) 228-2717
Congressman Greg Walden
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6730
Fax: (202) 225-5774
Onward,
Dee Anne
