If you are a federal employee impacted by the government shutdown, Carrot Tree Kitchens has you covered.
The restaurant and bakery, which has locations in James City County just outside Williamsburg and in Yorktown, recently began offering a free lunch for federal employees who have been laid off or furloughed due to the ongoing government shutdown.
“Through the years, through every shutdown, Carrot Tree has stood up when the government stood down,” the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page earlier this week, “and here we go again. … If the government isn’t giving you a check — neither are we!”
Glenn Helseth, co-owner of the nearly 35-year-old bakery, said he and his staff plan to support those affected by the shutdown — now in its third week — until it’s over.
“We’re here for you, your spouse, your family,” Helseth said. “If they relied on your paycheck, you can rely on us.”
“It’s our community. It’s time to help,” said Glenn Helseth, co-owner of Carrot Tree Kitchens, which is offering free lunches to federal employees affected by the government shutdown. James W. Robinson/The Virginia Gazette
This isn’t the first time the bakery has supported Williamsburg-area residents during issues in Washington. During the 2013 shutdown, Helseth had been renting a house from the federal government to operate his Yorktown restaurant. He was told to close due to the shutdown. However, a 100-year-old woman had planned to celebrate her birthday the day after.
Helseth reopened that day in defiance to the federal government. As the 16-day shutdown continued, the bakery provided meals to veterans while also raising money and receiving support from the community, he said.
“I decided to reopen Carrot Tree in Yorktown in that old house,” he said. “In doing so, it occurred to me that there was a lot of people that we could help.”
The restaurant has responded to other shutdowns since then, giving spaghetti dinners for federal employees and feeding Coast Guard members in Yorktown after they lost their paychecks. Government shutdowns are personal for Helseth, as both his parents were military and government employees, he said. He recounted seeing news reports of government workers going to food banks, which became a driving force to support those affected.
From the 2012 shutdown to now, Helseth said the biggest lesson he learn is that people “can only rely on people.” Along with the importance of supporting one’s community, he said he learned how much a shutdown can affect someone.
“You miss a payment, your credit rating gets shot, it’s more than just not having food on your table,” he said. “It impacts every part of everyone’s life. And that’s what I learned: how impactful — and foolish — the shutdown is.”
After Helseth announced his free lunch offer on Facebook, customers rallied behind him, some offering to donate help pay for the meals. Federal workers can stop in to request a free lunch at either of the Carrot Tree locations — at 1303 Jamestown Road in James City County or 323 Water St. in Yorktown.
“Because community takes care of community.”
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
