GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – From food pantries to airline travel, the potential of a government shutdown has local officials paying attention to how it could impact people in Northeast Wisconsin.
Sports Management firm Athletes First teamed up with Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza and Feeding America to help distribute frozen and baked pizzas to Green Bay Salvation Army clients Friday afternoon.
“People like the Salvation Army, organizations like Salvation Army do a great job, great work, but when the funding gets cut, we have to be there to step in and help,” said Brian Murphy with Athletes First.
The distribution is part of a nationwide tour for Athletes First and it just happens to come at a time when places like the Salvation Army and Feeding America are closely watching what happens in Washington D.C. with the potential government shutdown.
About 700,000 people in Wisconsin receive Food Share benefits and while that program is funded through October, even if there is shutdown, it won’t be impacted immediately — like other programs.
According to John Zhang with Feeding America, “We are monitoring that situation to prepare our pantry partners in case of any further disruptions down the road. But, at this moment, October benefits are secure. WIC, on the other hand, we do see a continuation of some of the benefits but the food and vegetable portion will be cut fairly dramatically and immediately so you may see a reduction in your benefits for WIC.”
The Salvation Army, which serves hundreds of families a month says with more than 50-percent of its food pantry items coming in from community donations, its knows it will still be able to serve those looking for help. What the Salvation Army is most concerned with a government shutdown is with a potential increase in those seeking help with social services.
“Right now we have two full-time case managers who do our emergency service appointments, so we’re anticipating if we need we can call in some volunteers to help take in those phone calls, schedule appointments, anything with paperwork to kind of take some of that stuff off our case manager’s plate whatever we might need to do just so we can serve more people that are in need we’ll do it,” said Becky Durrow, with the Salvation Army in Green Bay.
Officials at Appleton International Airport expect to continue to serve travelers, too, even if the government shutdown happens. TSA screeners are considered essential workers, so they’ll be required to report.
Airport director, Abe Weber, said, “We’ve seen shutdowns in the past and our TSA staff continue to show up and really serve our community well, so we think that there won’t be a significant impact to the screening operations here in Appleton.”
That doesn’t mean travelers won’t run into problems in other cities, which is why Appleton airport officials encourage people to be flexible and prepared.
Weber added, “We certainly understand there could be flight delays, there could be flight cancellations. We always try to tell people, check the airline website. It’s always good to download the app on your phone to be mobile ready because a lot times there are travel disruptions that app can really re-accommodate you prior and faster than anything else can. 4809
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security payments, which won’t be affected. Neither will the U.S. Postal Service – but local and state agencies are all keeping a close eye on what happens in Washington.
