Several restaurants in Denver are providing free meals for furloughed workers.
There's still no end in sight for the partial U.S. government shutdown, which is now the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and 800,000 federal workers are currently going without pay. Some government employees may even struggle to put food on the table, which is why several restaurants in Denver are stepping in to help in any way they can.
One of these restaurants includes Oblio's Pizzeria in Park Hill. (Full list of restaurants posted below.) The restaurant has offered to provide free meals for government employees going without a paycheck. Oblio's has plenty of good eats on the menu, from pizza to wings to sub sandwiches. The family-owned establishment has been around for more than 20 years, and the decision to offer free meals highlights the importance of communities coming together over hardship.
“It’s just breaking my heart. And we really all need to pitch in and help,” said restaurant owner Dawn McKay.
“If we were in that situation, you know, it’s all about teaming together and trying to help each other out. We’ve always tried to support that here,” said Dawn’s daughter, Morgan.
Without pay, many furloughed workers have had to take money from their savings accounts, borrow money or put purchases on credit cards, or utilize crowdsourcing. 78 percent of U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck, according to CareerBuilder research. For government employees who have already missed a paycheck, financial stress is mounting.
Oblio's is just one of many businesses trying to help. Furloughed government workers can also down a free shot at State-38 Distilling, enjoy lunch on the house at Sushi-Rama, grab a crepe for free at Le French Cafe, get certain dishes free at Annette, or get a free pizza and soda from The Crafty Fox.
Government workers and their families can also get a meal on the house at either Lucha Cantina location. There are also several other restaurants offering discounts, specials, or free meals at certain days and times.
If you are currently furloughed, you can enjoy a free meal at Oblio's or one of these other restaurants just by bringing in your government ID. If you're not furloughed but want to help, support businesses like Oblio's by telling your friends to stop by and order something from the menu. You can also donate to a food pantry, call your senators and representatives, and find other ways to help out.
