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Although they are too proud to publicly say it, some local people whose jobs include helping others are now in need of help because of the federal government’s record-breaking shutdown.
According to one local food bank’s tally, a total of 23 Coast Guard members living in Terrebonne and a small portion of Lafourche Parish have come for assistance over the past week, actions necessitated by a second week without paychecks due to a government shutdown caused by an impasse between President Donald Trump and Congress.
Lawrence DeHart, president of the Terrebonne Churches United Good Samaritan Food Bank at 254 Magnolia Street in Houma, confirmed those numbers and said a score of federal employees from other agencies have come for help as well, all among the 800,000 going without paychecks. Many, like members of the Coast Guard, are required to work even if they do not get paid.
Houma is growing into a Coast Guard hub for the bayou region, with specialized unit members whose numbers include many young people, some just starting out with families.
Services the Coast Guard performs in this area, aside from search and rescue missions, include vessel inspections and oil spill coordination. Marine accidents and incidents investigated by Coast Guard personnel. Ironically, the Coast Guard has played a critical role in border security; the squabble that financially threatens its members who serve involves border security as well.
“It is very real,” said one Coast Guard officer, who is not authorized to speak publicly. “Young junior enlisted members have commitments attached to each paycheck. Missing a paycheck means they have potentially defaulted on a debt, and that is a very real concern.”
Federal employees — Coast Guard members included — have been encouraged to take out loans to get them over the government shutdown bar.
But some who were interviewed Thursday morning said the logistics can be tricky, and daunting.
The problem with the loans, one Coast Guard member said, is that an individual does not know how much to take out the loan for, or for how long a period, since there is no way of gauging how long the shutdown will end.
Multiple loans can result in detractions to their credit rating.
As Coast Guard members and other federal employees juggle their finances with budgets that are small to begin with, choices between paying bills for essentials like autos and buying food can be problematic.
“It’s not so bad for those of us here a long time, at least for now,” one senior federal employee said. “But for these young people, with young families, the situation can be crucial.”
Relief efforts do exist within and close to the Coast Guard, among them the Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Association New Orleans chapter. The group’s president, Nick Alphonso, agrees that from his perspective, the problem is very real and for some Coast Guard families critical.
Numbers of those who have sought help from food banks, he said, are but one metric among several.
“Some members are just too prideful, and they don’t want to go there,” Alphonoso said. “Others will, because they have a need to put something on the table to eat. How are some affording to get to work or bring their children to school?”
Alphonso said it takes the government five days to process an employee’s paycheck. Therefore, even if Congress and the President came to terms today there would still be a gap. Although votes on two separate Senate bills are expected, the prognosis for success is slim, according to political and government analysts.
While there are several avenues for aiding Coast Guard members, the CGTLEA is the only one that will allow donors to specify which Coast Guard unit or geographic area their donation should be delivered to.
For further information email nick.alphonso@cgtlea.org
Anyone wishing to assist by donating to the food bank can do so by visiting 254 Magnolia Street in Houma between 9 am and 4 pm Monday through Friday, and 8:30 am to Noon Saturday. Their phone number is (985)851-5523.
Food donations are appreciated, but DeHart noted that when cash donations are given, arrangements with local business allows each dollar to be increased in value by a factor of seven, meaning a small amount of money can go a long way in terms of food purchases.
Meanwhile local business learning of the crisis affecting Coast Guard families have begun to pitch in.
Perina Graves Colman, owner of Waggin Tails Healthy Pet Products at 6183 West Park Ave. in Houma told The Times that Coast Guard members needing food for their pets will be able to get help at the store.
“I would hate to see dogs given up for the sake of a meal,” she said, noting that she is keenly aware of the situation because she has Coast Guard relatives. “Let’s not forget the puppies.”
