GoFundMe sets up fundraiser for furloughed federal workers

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As the government shutdown enters its second month, ensuring that it’s the longest shutdown in history, charities and nonprofits are stepping up to ensure that those workers have access to basic needs, like food, diapers, and housing relief.

It’s sad that it’s come to this, in what is still the most powerful nation in the world. In the words of GoFundMe’s CEO, Rob Solomon, “because we live in an imperfect world, we have a simple choice: We can feel helpless while tragedy unfolds, or we can take action.”

That’s exactly what he and New Age guru Deepak Chopra have decided to do, starting a GoFundMe to aid the aid workers and nonprofits that are helping to provide basic needs of the nearly 800,000 furloughed federal employees. The fund was started with matching $10,000 donations from the two men, and is currently at just over $95,000 after two days.

More about the donations

These donations are tax deductible and will be administered by the Direct Impact Fund, a registered U.S. public charity. Those nonprofits include #ChefsForFeds, which is currently serving thousands of meals in the Washington DC area, and the National Diaper Bank Network, which provides diapers to those affected by the furlough. The rest of the nonprofits will be released shortly.

According to the Huffington Post, over 1,500 GoFundMe campaigns have been started by federal employees since the shutdown started.

With Tuesday marking the second missed paycheck for the nearly 800,000 furloughed federal workers, and the start of a second 30-day furlough period, it’s clear that the longer that this shutdown goes on, the irreparable damage it is doing to the country increases.

Do you know of any other services helping those out of work? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.