Immigrants step up to feed furloughed federal workers

Furloughed federal workers line up at the World Central Kitchen led by famous Chef Jose Andres. MANILA MAIL

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. government shutdown, now the longest in history, has affected the lives of 800,000 federal workers. There appears to be no end in sight.

Without paychecks to pay their bills, many workers are feeling the hit of financial burdens. Thousands have started flooding food banks and lining up at food pantries across the country.

The Capital Area Food Bank, which operates in the Washington, D.C., area, typically serves about 3 million meals during the month of January. It estimates it will provide an additional 300,000 to 600,000 meals this month to feed furloughed workers.

Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jose Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, is also providing free meals to these workers in Washington, D.C. He says he wants to send this message:

“World Central Kitchen is always there to respond to any disaster to make sure Americans and people around the world will not go a day without a plate of food. Today we face another type of disaster emergency in the United States. More than 800,000 federal workers are without a job. Many millions of Americans are going to go through hard times. We believe no person should have to go through the pain of not knowing what to feed children.”

Many of World Central Kitchen’s volunteers, like James Soriano (right) are furloughed federal workers. MANILA MAIL/Jon Melegrito

The chef called on Trump and members of Congress “to make sure we end this moment in the history of America where families are about to go hungry. We should always come together as We the People. As Americans. Bipartisan. Republicans and Democrats. All Americans.”

A rewarding opportunity

Among those who responded to the Chef’s call for volunteers to support World Central Kitchen’s mission is James Soriano of Washington, D.C., a career civil service employee who has worked for the Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Agency since 1999.

Furloughed on December 27, 2018, James has experienced all shutdowns in the more than 30 years he has worked for the government. He was working for the Department of Commerce the last time there was one, during the Clinton years.

“This operation to feed Federal employees was started by an immigrant,” James says. “I’ve admired Chef Andrés’ humanitarian efforts to provide healthy food to families and individuals touched by disasters. When he called for volunteers to feed furloughed federal workers, I jumped at the chance to work with the organization.”

He adds: “We are very mindful of Fed families who don’t have a savings buffer and live paycheck to paycheck. This humanitarian effort by Chef Jose Andres provides a rewarding opportunity for furloughed Feds to help colleagues who are having difficulties during this stressful time. What is notable is that contractors and small businesses who rely on the federal government are more affected in that they will not receive backpay. Government shutdowns affect many circles of society beyond federal workers.”

On the day James signed up, the kitchen served more than 4,400 people.

“I’m delighted we have an immigrant who is leading this effort,” James says proudly. “Immigrants have and will always be a reason for making America great.”

Born in Manila, James immigrated to the U.S. in 1968, when he was five. He grew up in Hampton Roads, VA. and, after graduating from college, moved to DC to take up a federal job. Over the years, he has done volunteer work for the Red Cross, Food and Friends, Ecumenical Missions and the DC Public Schools as a math tutor.

Giving Back

Meanwhile, Trump’s insistence on a $5.7 billion wall has made it difficult for Congress and the White House to forge a compromise and end the shutdown.

Democrats, however, may budge if instead of a physical wall Trump would agree to “border security” enhancements. After all, the caravans of migrants and refugees that Trump is scared of don’t cross borders but actually present themselves at legal checkpoints.

James Soriano, on his first day as a volunteer to help feed furloughed federal workers. MANILA MAIL/Jon Melegrito

Democrats also want a path to citizenship for “Dreamers” – children of undocumented immigrants who are working, in countless ways, to make the United States stronger. If given opportunities to realize their potential, they will no doubt make substantial contributions to this country.

America has achieved greatness by welcoming people from around the world who seek to make a better life for themselves and their families. In turn, they give back.

Like Alexander Hamilton, one of nation’s founding fathers. Born in the Caribbean, he was an orphan when he came to America. In Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical, “Hamilton” declares: “Immigrants, we get the job done!” This phrase evoked thunderous applause because it resonated deeply with Americans who are alarmed by Trump’s immigrant bashing.

Hamilton reminds us of the positive impact immigrants have made. With the opportunities afforded to him, he made significant contributions serving as the first treasury secretary. And he got the job done.

One can’t watch Hamilton without realizing it’s not just the story of a Founding Father. It’s also our nation’s story.

Getting the job done

Andrésfounded World Central Kitchen after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the organization has grown significantly in the past decade. In the past couple of years alone, it has fed Americans after Hurricane Harvey in Texas, after several of the devastating California fires, after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and most recently after Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle.

“We are here making this country great,” Andrés said. “Nobody has to make America great again because America is already the greatest country on earth and people like us, us immigrants, are here contributing, that we are only going to keep moving it forward.”

Alexander Hamilton. Lin Manuel Miranda. Jose Andrés. James Soriano. Immigrants, all. Each in their own way, they get the job done.

Jon Melegrito is the editor of Manila Mail, an INQUIRER.net News Partner.