CHICAGO, IL – January 22, 2019 – “While I do not stand in judgement of the federal government’s decision, people are hurting and we have to do something,” President and CEO George N. Miller, Jr., wrote about the longest government shutdown in his weekly address to more than 600 Loretto employees.
Loretto Hospital employees were asked to turn in the names of their immediate family members who work for federal government agencies and who have been impacted by shutdown. Names submitted must be accompanied by a photo ID, along with direct relationship to the employee, as well as proof they have been furloughed as a result of the shutdown. Miller also encouraged fellow team members to step up to add to the fund, which is officially called, “The Loretto Hospital Relief Fund”, in response to the 2019 shutdown.
“Our team members come to work every day with a smile to serve our patients and this community. Now it’s time for us to serve them. The Loretto Hospital is not only here to help our patients and the community, but we are paying it forward by helping the family members of our employees during this nationwide crisis,” Miller said.
Now in its 32nd day, the government shutdown is affecting about 800,000 federal workers who are living without pay, as well as public services on which millions of people rely, according to a New York Times report. Many of these agencies have Chicagoland area locations or affiliations.
Government agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration workers (TSA), Customs and Border Protection, Forest Service firefighters, National Weather Service Forecasters, and Department of Commerce. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also affected.
The partial federal government shutdown began on midnight, Saturday, December 22, and is the third shutdown since the Trump administration. To support “The Loretto Hospital Relief Fund” go to https://www.lorettohospitalfoundation.org/donate-now and specify “The Loretto Hospital Relief Fund” in the note section.
“While we know the magnitude is great and cannot solve the federal government’s problems, we can certainly help people that we know who have nowhere else to turn,” Miller said.