Furloughed Government Workers Can Get Free Stouffer's Meal

SOLON, OH — Stouffer's will provide free meals to furloughed government employees on Wednesday. The company is giving away lasagna and mac and cheese meals at its Solon offices.

From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., furloughed government employees, with a valid government ID, can pick-up the meals at 30003 Bainbridge Road in Solon. The giveaway could end early if supplies run out, the company said.

The federal government is entering the fourth week of its shutdown. On Monday, President Donald Trump rejected a short-term legislative fix and proclaimed he would "never ever back down."

There is no clear ending in sight for what is now the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. Approximately 800,000 U.S. government employees nationwide have been furloughed. Those workers are now missing paychecks. Many Ohioans have been impacted by the shutdown, including NASA employees, TSA agents, national park workers, and more.

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Security screeners at the nation's airports have been forced to work without pay and are beginning to no-show their duties, according to an AP report. Delays at the Atlanta airport, one of the nation's busiest, caused travelers to wait up to an hour to get through security.

Government employees face growing uncertainty over their ability to meet mortgage payments, or simply put food on the table.

Stouffers' parent company, Nestlé, said it would make monetary and food donations to Cleveland-area food banks to further help impacted workers.

"This is part of Stouffers’ commitment to ensuring the communities always have access to good food for individuals and families," the company said in a statement.

Photo from Stouffer's