It has been an incredibly busy few months at FEEA, with scholarship selections and furloughs taking the time and attention of staff and volunteers alike. Final selections for the 2013-14 scholarship program are being made and winners of the NTEU $5,000 scholarships will be announced in a few weeks. All eligible applicants will receive notice of their final status no later than October 31, 2013. That’s the good news.
The bad news: With more than $330,000 out the door so far to furloughed feds, FEEA’s budget has been stretched to the max and we will likely have to halt new loans to furloughed employees next week.
FEEA has assisted employees from the IRS, EPA, EEOC, HUD, Department of Labor, FAA, DoD, Army, Navy, and Air Force. The more than 550 feds helped so far hail from 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. We still have a backlog of several hundred applications and are receiving more daily.
FEEA is able to continue providing assistance this week thanks to a generous donation of $30,000 received last week from the BlueCross/BlueShield Association, an additional $30,000 annual sponsorship expected shortly from GEICO, and a $10,000 donation from new corporate sponsor GEBA. These contributions are greatly appreciated, but more are needed if FEEA is to continue providing loans at this record rate after Labor Day.
This is a difficult time for all federal employees, but especially for those who have experienced furloughs on top of other set-backs. We hear new stories every day of feds who have had LWOP for medical reasons in addition to furlough days or were already behind on bills due to a child’s illness or a divorce. Others have spouses who have lost their jobs or are the only breadwinners in multi-generational family units. FEEA wants to be able to continue helping each and every federal employee who qualifies for aid, but we cannot do it without your generosity. Please help FEEA help feds with a donation of $20 or more today. Donations may be made via credit card on FEEA’s web site or via check made out to “FEEA” and sent to: FEEA Headquarters, 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80227.
If you need assistance, please visit our furlough page for more information.
