Communities coming to aid of CG

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to work despite the partial government shutdown, but the political standoff may cause personnel not to be paid Jan. 15. The last check was issued Jan. 1. With six days to go, neighbors of the Coast Guard Cape May (N.J.) Training Center are organizing donations of household supplies in case the budget impasse isn’t resolved. The CG is part of the non-budgeted Department of Homeland Security. Other groups also began collecting gifts, but ran into a snag. A provision in the code of federal regulations says federal employees cannot accept gifts of “anything of value,” according to a spokesman of the training center. But, the issue was resolved with the involvement of the Jersey Cape Military Spouses Association, a local non-profit that is accepting donations for distribution instead of it going directly to employees of any federal agency. In Michigan, local people and businesses are also making donations of free groceries. Bayside Market in Traverse City has an account set up to accept donations that can be used indirectly for CG members. All they have to do is show up with an I.D. Groceries will be offered free until the fund runs out, then the business will offer 25 percent off. (Source: Work Boat 01/08/19)