Federal workers affected by shutdown offered free weekday lunches

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are without a steady paycheck as the partial shutdown of the federal government continues, but a few Indianapolis groups have teamed  up to help. 

Federal workers and their families can now get free lunch every weekday at the south-side location of Books & Brews, 3808 Shelby St.

All people need to bring with them is a government ID card and an appetite. 

Quest Food Management Services teamed up with the University of Indianapolis to serve the food.

“There’s so many needs out there right now,” Quest employee Elia Montanez said. “They need that more than we do, and to know that we can feed them, it’s something big.”

Montanez only fed one federal worker Thursday, the first day of the program. 

Melissa Sandullo, who owns Books & Brews, said her team will keep hosting the meals until the shutdown ends.

“We all want to be appreciated, and none of us sign up for a job thinking that we are not going to get paid for that job,” Sandullo said. 

The J. Williamson Barber Shop near 10th Street and Emerson Avenue is offering free haircuts to federal workers in need. 

Indy Parks has also announced free admission to all parks and drop-in programs for federal workers. 

Renea McCammon is a TSA employee in Indianapolis who is working without a paycheck during the partial shutdown.

“If there is something that’s not done here within the next week, I will have to look at taking a loan,” McCammon said. 

The employees still working will get back pay when the government reopens. In the meantime, every little bit helps. 

“We put a smile on someone’s face that really needed it for the day,” Montanez said. 

The meals will be served at the Shelby Street Books & Brews location every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.