Businesses, groups assist furloughed federal employees

Community members in Washington County where U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) personnel and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees are stationed have stepped forward as best they can to show their support of furloughed workers as the federal government shutdown advances past the four‑week mark and into uncharted territory.
There are about 24 Coast Guard men and women at the USCG station in Eastport. A number have families. A benefit to raise funds for them was all set to go on January 21 at the Landmark 1887 restaurant in downtown Eastport, but the iced‑up road conditions left over from the previous day's storm caused the benefit to be canceled for that night. However, monetary donations already had been coming in from supporters with ties to the island city, with Josh Smith, officer in charge at Station Eastport, explaining that the legal path for donations meant for the use of USCG employees is through the Northern New England Chief Petty Officers Association. Smith is able to access the funds collected by the association when members of his crew make a request for assistance.
A number of restaurants stretching from Machias to Calais have offered discounts to furloughed federal workers. Helen's Restaurant in Machias, the WaCo Diner in Eastport, the New Friendly Restaurant in Perry, Jo's Diner and Pizzeria and Crumbs Café and Bake Shop in Calais and more have been offering discounts to those affected by the shutdown. Also, the Calais Elementary School will be hosting a taco bar and Chinese auction on Saturday, February 2, from 1 to 6 p.m. to benefit affected families.
Municipal offices offer resources, but some of them are limited, explains Eastport City Manager Elaine Abbott. General assistance has specific requirements and is only for the residents of that community, in her case, Eastport. "We're helping as many ways as we can," she says. Along with municipal general assistance funds, a number of communities have food pantries and emergency fuel funds. City and town offices have information available on such resources for any furloughed employee who needs assistance.
Bay City Garage in Eastport has set up a charge account for the Coast Guard personnel to use to charge gas, oil changes, light bulbs, "whatever they need," says Colleen Dana-Cummings. "They can charge to us and pay us back when they get paid." She also has established a charge account for heating oil deliveries for those in the Coast Guard who live in Eastport.
The Eastport Port Authority, looking forward to the hardships that could begin to occur if the government shutdown continues for much longer, worked with the R&M IGA in Eastport to set up a charge account for Coast Guard members to use to buy groceries. The charge will go to the port authority. Chris Gardner, the port authority's executive director, says, "We'll cover the costs until they're able to pay us back." He adds, "We're doing our best to understand the needs of the Coast Guard. This was how best we could give a helping hand."
Gardner says that when he talked with Officer in Charge Smith he informed Smith that Eastport being Eastport it would be futile to resist the offers of help. He told Smith, "It's not up to you. One way or the other we're coming over the fence" to help. "Groceries and gas, they're the things that are immediate -- how to get back and forth to work and feed their families." As for U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who may need help, Gardner says, "If we find there's a need, we'd offer a helping hand as well."
As the chair of the Washington County commissioners, Gardner notes that his hat is off to those who have stepped forward to help. "It's really the localized communities who step up and help." And every bit of it "goes a long way to give them a hand."