At Cincinnati State this week, culinary students were preparing meals, more than 1,500 meals in all, to help unpaid government workers.
Executive chef Jason Lafferty was coordinating the free Thursday night dinner at the school's Summit restaurant, in partnership with La Soupe, which provided take-out meals.
"It provides opportunity and exposure, and of course just to help people is a wonderful feeling," Lafferty said.
While that free meal program is over for now, many other businesses are trying to help government workers, now looking at their second payday with no check.
Among them, EPA contract worker Keane Gleeson, who is filing for unemployment to get through a month with no pay. "Not a good time to be losing income," he said.
The good news is that generous Cincinnati companies and agencies are trying to help out folks like Gleeson.
Free meals
Unpaid workers with ID will find free food at:
- IKEA in West Chester, which is offering free breakfasts
- The Senate Restaurant in OTR and Blue Ash
- Smoking This and That Barbecue in Florence, KY
Deferred hospital bills
Hospitals waiving fees and co-pays include:
- Mercy Health
- Tri Health
- St Elizabeth
Banking breaks
Several banks are offering no fee loans or waived payments, including:
- Fifth Third
- US Bank
- Chase Bank
- CinFed Credit Union
Cell phone providers
Unpaid workers may be able to defer cell phone payments to:
- Verizon
- AT&T
- T-Mobile
- Sprint
Free haircuts
- Darren and Co Salon in Anderson Township is offering free haircuts. You must call ahead and confirm you are an upaid government employee and make an appointment.
Trampoline jumping to vent frustration
And the Sky Zone has free trampoline jumping to take out all that frustration many unpaid workers are feeling.
Know of any other freebies for government employees? Email or message me at the links below.
As always, don't waste your money.
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Contact John at jmatarese@wcpo.com
Contact John at jmatarese@wcpo.com
