‘Tri-Valley Food For Furloughed’ Will Help Struggling Families

DUBLIN, CA — Tri-Valley community leaders are asking for the public's help with donations for local Coast Guard families struggling to make ends meet during the partial government shutdown. Residents are invited to donate food as part of the “Tri-Valley Food For Furloughed” food drive.

The drive will provide free food and resources to federal employees affected by the partial federal government shutdown, according to a statement released this week by Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty’s office.

Haggerty, along with Mayors David Haubert, John Marchand, Jerry Thorne and Dublin City Councilmember Shawn Kumagai, are asking residents for donations of food and food and gas gift cards.

“Thousands of people right here in the Tri-Valley are impacted by this shutdown, many of whom have families to provide for. It is not just a reduction of income for these individuals and families, it is no income at all. Those affected in the Tri-Valley should know that their community and elected leadership both support them, and will protect and provide as long as necessary,” said Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty.

The thousands of active duty members of the Coast Guard continue rescuing stranded boaters, patrolling our ocean borders and other duties. Those employees are not getting paid.

In Dublin, hundreds of correctional officers at the Federal Correctional Institution have been sleeping on cots at the prison, or their cars, in an effort to save money on gas costs, according to Haggerty’s office.

Kumagai said, “As a Veteran and a Dubliner, I was very happy when my friends and neighbors asked how they could help those impacted by the shutdown. I hope that this collection drive can help federal government employees, including our own FCI employees, weather this storm. No matter the politics in Washington, here at the local level, we stand together as a community to support one another.”

Donations to “Tri-Valley Food for Furloughed” can be made during these drop-off events:

Friday, January 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lucky California
2840 Dublin Boulevard

Sunday, January 27 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Safeway
4495 First Street

“Dublin is a community who cares,” said Haubert. “We support our residents affected by the Federal Employee Furlough. It’s especially hard for workers who don’t have sufficient savings to cover their mortgages and other bills. The last thing these people should have to worry about is how they will get their next meal.”

Those who cannot make the drop-off events are invited to donate at any three locations in Tri-Valley:

• Asbury United Methodist Church at 4743 East Ave. in Livermore
• IBEW Hall at 6250 Village Pkwy. in Dublin
• CityServe Tri-Valley located at 530 Main St. in Pleasanton (above Inklings Coffee & Tea)

“It is within the Livermore community DNA to assist those who are going through difficult times,” Marchand said in a statement. “We will step up to help our federal partners in government, who are caught up in this shutdown.”

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