Local Eatery Offers Free Meal For Furloughed Government Employees

MATTITUCK, NY — As furloughed workers struggle to make ends meet during the partial government shutdown, a local North Fork eatery is reaching out to ensure no one goes hungry.

C.J.'s American Grill, located at 10095 Main Road in the Mattituck shopping plaza, is offering a free entree for any government employee, with ID, affected by the shutdown, according to manager Tanya McDowell. For additional information, call 631-315-5311.

Other businesses and community groups are also stepping up to help: On Sunday, Jan. 27, Girl Scout Unit 669 and the Wading River Congregational Church are hosting a food drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at King Kullen to help furloughed government workers in need; non-perishable food will be collected to make food boxes. Food boxes can be picked up at the church, located at 2057 N. Country Road in Wading River, on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon. If there is an immediate need, contact the church at 631-929-8849 to arrange a time for pickup.

Also on the North Fork, Scott Goldberg of North Fork Wedding Films & Photography said his company is offering $2,000 off wedding packages for people who work for the government and are currently not getting paid.

Patch photo by Lisa Finn.