The sign outside Little Amps on State Street.
A month into a partial federal government shutdown, many furloughed workers are beginning to wonder how they’re going to pay their bills.
In Harrisburg, there’s at least one expense they won’t have to worry about—their coffee tab.
Little Amps Coffee Roasters announced today that they’ll provide one free, 12-ounce coffee per day to furloughed federal workers for the duration of the shutdown.
“We’ve been hearing a lot of fed-up talk from federal workers who come to our shops, and so we’re doing our little bit to help out,” said owner Aaron Carlson.
About 800,000 workers have received no pay since Dec. 22 due to an impasse over funding for a border wall demanded by the Trump administration. Roughly 380,000 have been furloughed, while 420,000, deemed “essential,” are working without pay.
The free coffee applies to both, Carlson said, and is available at all three Little Amps shops in Harrisburg. Workers will need to show their federal IDs to get the gratis joe.
Carlson noted that Little Amps is in the business of both selling coffee and fostering community. Indeed, many locals regard Little Amps shops as something of a second office, where work is conducted and meetings held.
“Who knows, maybe a furloughed worker affected by the shutdown can meet someone in the same boat or maybe someone looking for temporary help,” Carlson said.
Little Amps Coffee Roasters is located at 1836 Green St., 133 State St. and inside Strawberry Square, all in Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.
