My name is Cynthia Brown. I'm an essential federal employee in the DC area currently working without a paycheck until the government reopens. My last paycheck was only a partial one. Since this has happened, my car had been repossessed, (I had an arrangement to make a payment the week we only ended up getting a half a paycheck), and even though I advised the creditor to bear with me until the government reopens. We are not receiving pay. Even after the shutdown, I advised them several times that I am an employee working without a paycheck for the federal government. I finally raised enough money to be able to get the car out and I’m still waiting for the bank to post the transfer from GoFundMe into my account.

Unfortunately, and it is an extremely mentally breaking exhausting situation for many federal employees, this is still going on now into a second month. So again, no paychecks and rent is due. They are working with us a little bit, but it’s been tough and even things like the Internet at home to be able to communicate and use Wi-Fi to cut down on the cellphone data expense.

I reluctantly stretched the goal to 5000 because the help was overwhelming last weekend and I’m actually starting to feel bad because it’s not people’s jobs to carry each other just because Congress can’t make up their mind or agree on anything. I am so ever grateful for everybody’s help, donations, prayers and even sharing the GoFundMe, it has meant a lot to me. I know for a fact, I can pay the 5000 in donations back once the government reopens and payroll processes our backpay. I will soon have my vehicle with the money I’ve already raised. I still plan also to donate plasma and doing DoorDash on the weekends while still reporting to my essential job for the government at night. That is the money that I can use for gas, phone bill, any food we need just the day-to-day necessities. At the end of all this after we receive our backpay I will send another thank you message through the GoFundMe, which reaches you and with my information to repay the help back because it really was a great help even being able to have the money to be able to go to work, keep my phone on, get my medicine and get my car.

Your help will allow me to pay rent, necessities and stay afloat during this horrible time of uncertainty. I am still looking into all resources possible but time and expenses don’t allow for much time especially while still working. I have already interviewed with WTOP in an article that they published on how it’s affecting federal workers, also with The Washington Post and this afternoon with NBC news with the Senior White House correspondent. All on how this is affecting different federal workers and I am hoping that our expression of how this is deeply impacting us negatively, is making a positive impact on Congress on getting this settled very very soon that it has gone on the way long enough.

I am a widow. I don't have a spouse. I don't have any siblings. Both of my parents are gone. I have distant relatives in other countries, but the ones that I could still reach told me that they can't help despite my pleas. I have two daughters, but they have their own families and children to take care of, and things are already tough as it is.

Your help is beyond appreciatedto help get through this and keep a roof over my head, because although we are not receiving pay now, we will be receiving back pay once the government reopens.  No donation is too small, and I would be very grateful and keep my word on paying it back to you.

I've never asked anybody for anything on here, but there seems to be very little positivity as far as when it will be ending, and they just voted against us not to be paid while the shutdown takes its course. I have worked at my job for 20 years. I have endured two other shutdowns, but nothing is as bad as now, and I definitely need my vehicle and I would be ever so grateful to all who are able to help. There are some federal credit unions that are able to help people in my position, but I would've needed to have direct deposit to them prior to the shutdown, and unfortunately, I did not. I don't want to throw away over 20 years of federal service. I'm only about six years from retirement. Please, please help, and I promise to pay you back.❤️