By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A number of Sitka businesses and social service organizations are offering help for federal employees affected by the partial government shutdown.
Many federal workers received their last paycheck at the end of last year, or on Jan. 1, and if not for the partial government shutdown that started Dec. 26 they would have received their next paycheck Jan. 12 or Jan. 15.
President Trump signed a bill Wednesday in which Congress guarantees that the affected workers will get back pay when the shutdown ends, but the local businesses said they know many need help now and can’t wait until the furlough is over.
Both of Sitka’s large grocery stores, the Salvation Army and Sitka Tribe of Alaska are offering help with groceries, and other businesses are pitching in with special offers.
To that end, AC Lakeside is offering a 25 percent discount on groceries to federal employees affected by the shutdown, and the Hames Corp., owner of Sitka Sea Mart and Market Center, is offering them the opportunity to pay for their purchases when the furlough is over.
“A lot of Sitkans are affected by this,” Lakeside manager Greg Dahl said. “A lot of folks are working and not getting a paycheck, and they still need to put food on their tables.”
Lakeside also is offering current federal employees a charge card with zero interest for 30 days.
“We’re a Coast Guard town, so we decided to do that for them, and extend it to all federal employees,” Dahl said. “If it continues, we can work on extending it, which will help out as well.”
The Hames family, which returned to town from vacation this week, had been keeping an eye on the situation.
“We saw how others were stepping forward,” Hames Corporation Chairman Roger Hames said.
“So we’re in the food business – one of the most expensive items in anyone’s budget,” he said. “The family came together, and said ‘What can we do?’”
Roger, his wife Mary and sons Andrew and Brian agreed it was best to keep it simple while still helping out families and individuals in need.
They agreed that anyone affected by the shutdown who is not getting a check, can pay for their groceries at Sea Mart by writing a check, and the Hames Corp. won’t cash it until the furloughed workers are being paid again.
“It’s something simple, it’s easy to follow, and you still get miles on your SmartCard,” Hames said.
The offer is good only at the Hames Corp.’s main store, Sea Mart, and only for those with a checking account. After the shutdown ends, Sea Mart will contact those who have written the checks, and make sure it’s OK to cash them, Hames said.
“If we’re out a few thousand dollars, we feel good about doing the right thing. It’s something we can do and hopefully it helps,” he said.
Hames Corp. is also giving a break to tenants affected by the shutdown who can’t pay rent on time.
Hames said it makes sense to help out the federal workers, who had nothing to do with the shutdown.
“They’re being held hostage in this situation,” he said. “There’s a lot of finger pointing going on, but it should be directed at everyone in Washington, D.C. The smaller communities are, the more they are affected by this. These are our friends and neighbors, and we can’t turn our back on that kind of thing.”
Sitka Tribe of Alaska announced Jan. 11 that it was opening its food pantry at 110 American Street to federal workers impacted by the shutdown.
“We have a well-stocked pantry,” Sitka Tribal Council Chairman KathyHope Erickson said.
The pantry is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. She said all sorts of food are available, including canned and jarred goods, and fresh produce.
Tribal citizens affected by the shutdown also may apply for emergency funding, to help pay utility bills, “or whatever they need right now,” Erickson said.
Erickson said when she inquired as a tribal citizen about what STA could do to help, “almost immediately” she heard from general manager Lisa Gassman and Melanie Boord, from the social services department.
She said some tribal citizens also have been inspired to help out, including members of the Alaska Native Brotherhood, which donated $300 to the pantry, and her mother Christine Littlefield, who donated enough groceries for two meals.
ANB President George Chappell, right, and ANB Secretary Frea Hillaire make a $300 donation to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska food assistance program for federal employees effected by the partial government shutdown. (Photo provided by Will Hanbury Jr.)
Most of the programs to benefit the affected federal workers require them to show their work or military ID.
Many people credit Our Town Catering and chef Edith Johnson with getting the ball rolling on helping all the federal workers who are not being paid. On Dec. 26, the first day of the furlough, Johnson posted online that she would offer them 25 percent off on the price of lunch at her restaurant at 236 Katlian Street. She also will accept IOUs until the shutdown ends.
“I just felt terrible,” she said. “I can’t imagine not getting paid and having such an important job. I just wanted to help out as much as I could.”
Many of her patrons are in the Coast Guard, who started eating lunch at Our Town while the Galley at the air station was closed for nine months.
“We were packed with Coast Guard members throughout the week,” she said. “I wanted to do something nice for them, I wanted to support them.”
The restaurant’s hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday for pelminis.
Other businesses and nonprofits offering services are:
– the Sitka Sound Science Center, offering free admission to Coast Guard and federal employees 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. It also will have a pop-up pantry on Saturday, receiving donations until 3 p.m. (no items needing refrigeration.) Donations will be dispersed beginning Jan. 21, 3-7 p.m.
– Emily Davis at The Studio, offering free fitness classes 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, to all federal employees by calling her at 738-5118.
– Sweet Peas at Sawmill Creek Shopping Center, offering clothing and other items.
– Sitka Pregnancy Center, offering baby and infant clothing and supplies.
– Sewing Solutions, waiving fees for Bravo jackets, ODUs, etc. Call 738-3430.
