Shutdown Resources

Highlighted Helpful Links:

• AFGE Stop the Shutdown!: https://www.afge.org/take-action/campaigns/stop-the-shutdown/

• AFGE Council 238 Shutdown Resources - https://afge238.org/government-shutdown-preparation-resources/

• EPA Alumni Shutdown Support for EPA Employees and EPA SEE Enrollees:  https://www.epaalumni.com/shutdown

• Federal Unionists Network Shutdown Resources for Federal Workers: https://www.federalunionists.net/shutdown-2025

• Senator Bernie Sanders’ Resources for Federal Workers: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-for-federal-workers/

• Financial Counseling: https://www.NFCC.org

• MyFedBenefits 2025 Shutdown Assistance Map (SAM): Resources for Federal Workers - https://myfedbenefitshelp.com/shutdown-assistance-map/

• Alliance for Period Supplies - Free period supplies: https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/

EPA Employee Records to Download and Furlough Guidance

• Add your home email address to Login.gov. Instructions are at: https://www.afge3911.org/employeeexpress-help

• Download/Print Leave and Earnings Statements: https://www.EmployeeExpress.gov

• Download all records from eOPF. Accessible only on agency laptop. Instructions are at:https://www.afge3911.org/eopf-help

• EPA’s Lapses in Appropriation page: https://www.epa.gov/lapse

• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/ - Their fact sheet states that federal employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. Eligibility is determined by state law, not on the Federal level, which may work in your favor.

Career Assistance

• National Career Help  https://www.CareerOneStop.org

• Environmental Protection Network: https://www.environmentalprotectionnetwork.org/federal-employee-resources/

• Region 2 Jobs Directory with crowd-sourced jobs and career opportunity resources; a link to the EPA Alumni Association; a resource directory from FedsForward.org; and a Job Opportunities Submission Form where you can contribute further resources that could be helpful to our colleagues.

Formula for Infants

• Free Formula Exchange - https://freeformula.exchange/ - Connects people who need formula with people who no longer need the formula.Income verification is not required.

Government Food Resources

• Speak With Your Child’s School District: To save on food and ensure your kid eats breakfast and/or lunch free (less stress and worry for you), notify the district of your furlough. No income is an emergency and normally qualifies you for the free meal program.

• The Emergency Food Assistance through USDA - https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program

Non-Profit and Community Food Resources

• Food Banks: https://www.FeedingAmerica.org

• Food Pantries: https://www.FoodPantries.org

• Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/ - These guys have a nationwide network of 200 food banks. From those food banks, they have 60,000 partner pantries from which they can serve every community across the United States. This is an awesome resource, and they have already begun serving Federal employees affected by the government shutdown.

• Flash Food - https://flashfood.com/ -Allows you to buy food at a significantly reduced rate. Download the app on your phone to use.

• Olio - https://olioapp.com/en/ - Find and share meals locally

Food Resources with Limited Service Areas (see separate section for New Jersey by County

• Lemontree (NYC and NJ-wide) - https://www.foodhelpline.org/ - Find food in your city

• Project Foodbox (NYC) - https://projectfoodbox.org/ - Offers a Medically Tailored Food Box Program to members of qualifying insurance providers. This program delivers fresh food boxes, pantry items or frozen meals directly to your doorstep

• Too Good To Go (NYC)- https://www.toogoodtogo.com/ -World's largest food waste app. Surplus food from restaurant or grocery store at a reduced price or free.

State Agencies

• NJ Department of Human Services/NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)- https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/emergency - N

• NJ Department of Health/NJ Women, Infants & Children (WIC) - https://www.nj.gov/health

• NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate - https://nj.gov/foodsecurity

• NJ Department of Agriculture - https://www.nj.gov/agriculture

Food Resources in New Jersey

• NJ-wide

  • findhelp.org https://www.findhelp.org/find-social-services/new-jersey - Find social services in New Jersey

  • Salvation Army New Jersey Division - http://salvationarmynj.org/

  • The Community Foodbank of New Jersey https://cfbnj.org/find-foods-services - Locate food pantries, soup kitchens and other resources

  • Lemontree - https://www.foodhelpline.org/ Find food in your city

  • NJ 211 Food Pantry Search - http://www.nj211.org/ New Jersey's comprehensive information and referral organization

• Atlantic County

  • Food Banks in New Jersey's Heartland - https://njheartland.org/food-banks-in-new-jerseys-heartland/

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Atlantic) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/atlantic_county_food_banks_and.html

• Bergen County

  • Bergen County Food Security Task Force https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bergen-county-food-security-task-force-page - Scroll down to "Find a Food Pantry" and type in your city, address or zip code. The options will pop up just underneath the search area.

  • Center for Food Action's Appointment-Only Distribution - https://www.cfanj.org/gethelp/ - Once every three weeks, households living in northern Passaic County can make an appointment to receive a box of non-perishable food, along with fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bread, as available. Login or create an account to request a food appointment or call the number of your local distribution site.

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Bergen) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/bergen_county_food_pantries.html

• Burlington County

  • Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries - https://jfcssnj.org/pantry-assistance-requests/ Kosher, non-perishable food and personal care items to food-insecure households. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, clients are currently receiving monthly, contactless grocery deliveries. Call 856-424-1333 or email faphelp@jfedsnj.org to schedule an intake appointment.

  • Food Bank of South New Jersey - https://foodbanksj.org/zip-code-locator/

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Burlington) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/burlington_food_pantries.html

  • Burlington City Food Pantries & Meal Programs - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vLJbyxbhQbP3E4Q-ogNq3mYKfNw2OHhn/view?usp=sharing - A list of food pantries and meal programs available in Burlington City.

• Camden County

  • Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries - https://jfcssnj.org/pantry-assistance-requests/ - Kosher, non-perishable food and personal care items to food-insecure households. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, clients are currently receiving monthly, contactless grocery deliveries. Call 856-424-1333 or email faphelp@jfedsnj.org to schedule an intake appointment.

  • Food Bank of South New Jersey - https://foodbanksj.org/zip-code-locator/

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Camden) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/camden_county_food_pantries.html

  • Camden County Food Pantry Sites - https://drive.google.com/file/d/17qvdYUkxlshn9oqlGrY7HJN7e4QqvgmP/view?usp=sharing

• Cumberland County

  • Food Banks in New Jersey's Heartland - https://njheartland.org/food-banks-in-new-jerseys-heartland/

• Essex County

  • MEND Hunger Relief Network of Essex County, NJ - https://mendnj.org/ and site list at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GEk09G2ibVwwgsCG2FASQ3Mrz5AMIVTpQGhUVwIi8NA/edit?pli=1&gid=0#gid=0

  • Essex County Food Pantries - https://essexcountynj.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Essex-County-Food-Pantries-pdf.pdf

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Essex) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/newark_food_banks_and_pantries.html

  • Newark Assistance & Food Assistance Hubs - https://nwkassist.com/ - Explore the resources available to Newark residents during the government shutdown; Apply for emergency cash assistance.

  • Mend Hunger Relief Network - https://mendnj.org/

  • NORWESCAP - https://norwescap.org/what-we-do/health-and-nutrition/food-bank

• Gloucester County

  • Gloucester County Resource Directory - https://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/BusinessDirectoryII.aspx?lngBusinessCategoryID=40

  • Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantries - https://jfcssnj.org/pantry-assistance-requests/ - Kosher, non-perishable food and personal care items to food-insecure households. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, clients are currently receiving monthly, contactless grocery deliveries. Call 856-424-1333 or email faphelp@jfedsnj.org to schedule an intake appointment.

  • Food Bank of South New Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties) - https://foodbanksj.org/zip-code-locator/

  • South Jersey Dream Center - https://www.southjerseydreamcenter.org/need-help/ - Curbside pickup for groceries and baby items in West Deptford, Wednesdays from 12pm to 2:30pm - by appointment only. Fill in the form on the website to connect with the organization and get an appointment.

  • Food Banks in New Jersey's Heartland - https://njheartland.org/food-banks-in-new-jerseys-heartland/

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Gloucester) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/gloucester_county_food_pantrie.html

  • Gloucester County Food Pantry Search Too - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NrvvFfcWZ_ylivaUdejp4pFXUM1V5uMH/view?usp=sharing

• Hudson County

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Hudson) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/hudson_county_food_pantries.html

• Hunterdon County

  • Hunterdon County Food Pantries - https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/3385/Hunterdon-Food-Pantries-List-PDF?bidId=

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Hunterdon) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/hunterdon_county_food_pantries.html

  • NORWESCAP https://norwescap.org/what-we-do/health-and-nutrition/food-bank

• Mercer County

  • Trenton Area Free Food Resources - https://trentonhealthteam.org/projects/food-resources/

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Mercer) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/trenton_food_pantries.html

  • Mercer Street Friends - https://mercerstreetfriends.org/

• Middlesex County

  • Middlesex County Programs - https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/find-programs-and-resources/services-locator

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Middlesex) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/food_pantries_in_middlesex_cou.html

• Monmouth County

  • Fulfill NJ - https://fulfillnj.org/get-help/ - They also offer child food programs and SNAP enrollment assistance.

  • Lunch Break https://lunchbreak.org/all-offerings/ - Community kitchen provides on-site breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday as well as dinner on Friday evening. They also have a client choice food pantry six days a week. Check the calendar for hours. Located at 121 Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank, NJ.

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Monmouth) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/food_pantries_in_monmouth_coun.html

• Morris County

  • Interfaith Food Pantry Network - https://www.mcifp.org/

• Ocean County

  • Fulfill NJ - https://fulfillnj.org/get-help/ - They also offer child food programs and SNAP enrollment assistance.

  • Plentiful Plates of Ocean County NJ - https://www.facebook.com/PlentifulPlates/ - Call (201) 394-9175, email toniski158@gmail.com, or WhatsApp message off of the Facebook page for more information.

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Ocean) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/ocean_county_food_banks.html

• Passaic County

  • Center for Food Action's Appointment-Only Distribution - https://www.cfanj.org/gethelp/ - Once every three weeks, households living in northern Passaic County can make an appointment to receive a box of non-perishable food, along with fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bread, as available. Login or create an account to request a food appointment or call the number of your local distribution site.

  • Eva's Village - Community Kitchen - https://www.evasvillage.org/evas-community-kitchen.html - Serves breakfast at 8:30am Monday through Friday, lunch at 12pm and 1pm Monday through Friday, and one lunch at 12pm on Saturday and Sunday.

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Passaic) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/passaic_county_new_jersey_food.html

  • CUMAC - https://www.cumac.org/

• Salem County

  • Food Bank of South New Jersey - https://foodbanksj.org/zip-code-locator/

• Somerset County

  • Somerset County Food Banks/Pantries/Soup Kitchens for Residents - https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/residents/covid-19-status/food-access

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Somerset) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/somerset_county_food_banks.html

  • Food Bank Network of Somerset County - https://www.somersetfoodbank.org/

  • Franklin Food Ban - https://franklinfoodbank.org/

• Union County

  • Needhelppayingbills.com list of food pantries (Union) - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/food_pantries_in_union_county.html

• Warren County

  • Washington Community Food Pantry - http://www.washingtoncommunityfoodpantry.com/home - Call 908-689-2547 to make sure you are eligible. Located at First Presbyterian Church of Washington at 40 East Church Street, Washington NJ. Hours are Tuesday-Friday and every 3rd Saturday from 9:15am - 11am. (Closed on holidays.)

  • NORWESCAP - https://norwescap.org/what-we-do/health-and-nutrition/food-bank

Heating Assistance

• Energy Assistance (LIHEAP): https://www.LIHEAP.org

• Norwescap (Energy Assistance)- supports income-eligible residents in Hunterdon, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties - https://norwescap.org/what-we-do/energy-assistance/

Furlough Grants

• Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA): https://feea.org/shutdown/ - This is an awesome offer that every furloughed Federal worker needs to take advantage of. FEEA-NARFE fund is offering $100 grants to active federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status.

Financial Assistance (Loans for Federal Employees, Companies Offering Temporary Payment Relief)

• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): TSP allows for the suspension of loan payments when you go into non-pay status. They do not require documentation about your furlough currently. Missing one or two payments will not cause your loan to go into default. Log in to your account to check your status or simply call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778.

• Bank of America: announced assistance available to furloughed Federal employees. Call the priority assistance line 844.219.0690.

• Chase Bank: Chase today announced efforts to help its customers who are U.S. government employees affected by the U.S. government shutdown. Here’s the special line they set up 1-888-356-0023.

• Congressional Federal Credit Union: For more information on our Relief Line of Credit or any of our assistance programs, contact our Member Service Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of our branch locations.

• Fed Choice Federal Credit Union: They’re offering quite a few different options to assist – for existing and new members.

• Interior Federal Credit Union: They’re offering a special loan for both member and non-member furloughed Federal workers. Net paycheck up to $15,000, interest free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit up to the equivalent of 2 net paychecks. More offers are available on the site or call 800-914-8619

• Navy Federal Credit Union: These guys are offering a special loan program. Read the FAQs PDF from this link to see if you qualify or call 1-888-842-6328

• PayPal: PayPal has made a very generous offer. They’ve allocated $25 million to fund interest-free cash advances to our furloughed Federal workers that need assistance right now. This is for both new and existing PayPal Credit customers. Minimum loan is $250 with a maximum cash advance of $500. Your account does need to be in good standing if you’re an existing PayPal Credit customer. Existing customers call 1-877-689-1975. For new accounts, apply here first, then after approval call 1-877-689-1975.

• U.S. Bank: Will waive all late fees if you miss a mortgage payment due to the shutdown. Also mentioned they will defer first payment dates for new mortgages.

• U.S. Employees Credit Union: USECU is also offering shutdown loans, but only until Tuesday, January 15th. Call (312) 922.5310 to get help.

• SunTrust: SunTrust didn’t make a specific offer, but they did make a public announcement that they have programs in place to help clients affected by the shutdown.

• Synchrony Bank: These guys handle store cards for Amazon, Lowes, Walmart, JCPenney, Chevron/Texaco, and many other large nationwide companies that you might do business with on a day-to-day basis. They are allowing affected customers to defer payments until after the shutdown. Contact them for more information.

• Union Plus: For union members, there are a great number of options available if you’re with Union Plus. Call them at 800-472-2005 to ask about these offers: $300 Furlough Grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, Mortgage Assistance Loan & $300 Grant: payment grace period for your Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance, payment grace period for Union Plus Auto Insurance, and payment grace period for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance.

• Wells Fargo: They’ve got a few different options to help depending on the services you have with their bank.

• Toyota Financial Services & Lexus Financial Services: Affected lease and finance customers in good standing with their accounts may be eligible to take advantage of up to two months of finance contract payment extensions or lease deferred payments. Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050.

• Hyundai Capital: Hyundai will extend all Hyundai Capital auto loans and lease payments for 30 days for current Hyundai owners who are federal government employees furloughed during the shutdown. Impacted consumers should contact Hyundai Motor Finance at 1-800-523-4030 to take advantage of this offer.

• Kia Motors Finance: Kia has announced they’re offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please contact us at 1-866-331-5632.

• Ford Credit, GM Financial, & Mercedes-Benz Financial Services: It has been reported that these companies are among those providing qualified customers options such as payment deferrals, late fee waivers and special care lines to address their individual problems, though official announcements from these companies have not been released online.

• AT&T: Will assist with adjusting late fees, providing extensions, and revising payment schedules. 

• Sprint: Will provide short-term payment solutions. Call 1-888-211-4747

• USAA Are offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.

• T-Mobile: Offering short-term assistance and can spread out service payments over time. Call 1-877-746-0909 or 611 from a T-Mobile device.

• Verizon: Offering flexible payment options and has a Promise to Pay program to set payments for a future date. Call 1-866-266-1445.

• Rent-A-Center (Benefits Plus Membership): If your account was up to date at the time of furlough and you are a part of benefits plus you may be eligible for a payment waiver based on your state: “Involuntary Unemployment Payment Waiver: Losing a job is hard and making payments while unemployed is even harder. Fortunately, your Membership waives your payments when you are involuntarily unemployed. Whether you were fired, laid off, suspended, or are out of work due to a labor dispute or strike, your payments are covered for up to four (4) months, up to $1,000, or when you’re able to return to work.”

Home Rental Cost Help

• National Rental Home Council: Represents many of the nation’s largest operators of single-family rental homes. They’re offering deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed.

• OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies: https://www.va.gov/opa/docs/remediation-required/hra/Sample-Letters-for-Creditors-Mortgage-Companies.pdf - OPM created these sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown.

Home, Auto & Life Insurance Relief

• MetLife: For those not receiving a paycheck from the federal government because of the current shutdown, MetLife Auto & Home may grant a one-time, 30-day grace period on your payment of premium on a MetLife Auto & Home policy. Members must request this one-time allowance by calling 1-800-GET-MET8. Certain restrictions apply, and premium remains due after delay expires.

• Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company: To help the nearly 27,000 AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.”. Policies beginning with the letter "Y" call: 844-800-9146, all other policies call: 888-513-8797

Fun Activities

• TDF Membership: https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tdf-membership/ - Government employees, union members, and retirees are eligible to join TDF for cheap tickets to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and a range of concerts, dance, and other performing arts in NYC.