Lower Township Rallies to Help Coast Guard Families During Government Shutdown

VILLAS – Lower Township will hold a donation drive for local Coast Guard members and their families being hit financially amid the partial government shutdown.
“We are a Coast Guard Community,” stated Mayor Erik Simonsen in a release. “With that honor is a promise that we will come together as a community to support each other in times of need.”
Approximately 1,000 active duty and civilian employees work at the Cape May training center.  Unlike other branches of the military, the Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security and is not fully funded during the shutdown.
The active duty members of the Coast Guard must still perform core missions of security, search and rescue and environmental enforcement even without pay. Most civilian employees are furloughed and received their last paychecks in December.
“The Coast Guard goes above and beyond to help others, and now it is our turn to step up and help them and their families,” stated Simonsen.
Members of the Chief Petty Officers Association and Jersey Cape Military Spouses Club prepared more space in the existing food pantry on the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May grounds to store donations received by the community groups to stretch paychecks to cover car payments, utilities, rent, and mortgages.
Currently, the biggest needs are laundry detergent, paper towels, diapers, baby wipes, and toiletries.
Lower Township officials have asked that donors focus on those nonperishable toiletry and baby essentials.
“On behalf of the Lower Township Council, we encourage our community to do what they can to support our local Coast Guard community,” added Simonsen.
Lower Township will hold a nonperishable donation drive at Township Hall, 2600 Bayshore Road, Jan.17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Township Hall’s manager’s office, and  Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Township Hall’s meeting room.