Government employees in the Washington, D.C. metro area affected by the partial shutdown can have a beer on, well, an anonymous stranger. It's not just a win for the employee, but for a local business that could suffer from the temporary loss of dollars.
A website has made it possible for folks to donate money to a frothy cause where workers furloughed by the U.S. government can enjoy a local craft brew while pondering when they'll get paid again.
The website generated is called payitfurloughed.com, and the process is fairly simple. Someone can donate to buy a beer, or a furloughed employee can "score a beer."
Through Wednesday night, there had been 1,983 beers donated and only 295 gulped, meaning 1,688 were still available.
Note to the seafaring military personnel: Navy, you're still getting paid, so it doesn't apply. Coast Guard, well, you can drink to the foam.
An identification showing proof of government employee or contractor is required.
According to payitfurloughed.com, they issued this statement:
"Beer makes everything better, so we're buying local craft brews for federal employees impacted by the government shutdown. We need your help!
Donate to the beer fund now. Stressed out federal employees and contractors, who are furloughed or working without pay, score free liquid therapy. Small businesses in the nation's capital hit hard by the shutdown get some relief. And you feel awesome. It's a win-win-win."
Once again, this initial free beer rollout is for a few participating D.C.-area breweries offering local craft brews, hoping to keep the local brew pub economy stimulated.
The donation part is straight to the point. There are four buttons to choose from: donate one beer for $7.50, two beers for $15 or a six-pack for $45. There's a fourth button to donate any larger amount.
"Your generous donation will ensure a federal worker or contractor, who is either furloughed or working without pay, will enjoy free local craft beers," it states on the donation page.
As for the consumption, there are four participating breweries in the Washington, D.C. are who are participating, and it states: Any federal employee or contractor with valid identification, who is 21+ years old, may score free beer at any of these participating local breweries in the Washington, DC area.
The government went into a partial shutdown at midnight on Dec. 21, and enters its 27th day on Thursday. Now the longest shutdown in history, it has affected national parks, the IRS, TSA screeners at airports, the U.S. Coast Guard, national museums and many other federal workers — including border security, even though the shutdown is tied to a border wall proposed by President Donald Trump.
President Trump on Monday welcomed the national champion Clemson University football team to the White House, but spent money from his own pocket on local fast food since much of the White House staff, including the kitchen, were also furloughed.
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