ACCOCEEK, Md. 鈥� Federal employees are returning to work soon after a 35-day partial government shutdown. It鈥檒l be longer before some contractors get back to their jobs. Sunday afternoon, some federal and contract workers gathered to showcase their side businesses that ranged from jewelry sales, baked goods and realty services.
Organizer Lisa Jones thought about holding an event for one small business, which turned into another idea.
鈥淏ut then I thought: Oh, I could just get the clubhouse and [host] a bunch of businesses,鈥� Jones said.
So she reached out to some neighbors and friends. One was Candeth Gravette. She and her husband James own Clifton Cleaners, which has a pickup and delivery service.
鈥淲e know a lot of people that have been off work, and I鈥檓 pretty sure they want to look nice and presentable…we wanted to make sure that we were able to help get people started and get back to work,鈥� Gravette told 91欧美激情.
Karen Gaughan, who works for the IRS, is an author who also sells Arbonne, 鈥渁 botanically-based nutrition, skincare, bath and body line.鈥�
Amy Kardell also took part in Sunday鈥檚 marketplace. She workers for the Department of Homeland Security as a professor at the National Intelligence University. Kardell sells Beautycounter beauty products on the side.
She told 91欧美激情 she had savings to help cover her mortgage during this latest shutdown. And her business income also helped with other expenses.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really set me into a place and a mindset that I have to figure out how to make it without the federal government at some point, because 35 years ago, people trusted that their federal jobs would always be there. I don鈥檛 think we have that confidence anymore,鈥� Kardell said.
One businesses owner, who was one of the vendors selling jewelry, told 91欧美激情 she is a government contract worker and won鈥檛 be back to work until contractors are called to return鈥攚ith no backpay to cushion the effects of the shutdown. She didn鈥檛 want to be identified, but said she鈥檚 a single mother with two boys, and they鈥檒l have to seek help from a local church to get food so they can eat.
Among the bakers featured at the marketplace were Jaqi Wright and Nikki Howard, the sisters of Furlough Cheesecake, who were featured on The Ellen Show during the shutdown and were awarded $20,000, which the sisters will pour into their business once the funds arrive.
Wright and Howard have been in business for a few weeks but have their minds on the future.
鈥淚t鈥檚 here to stay now,鈥� Wright said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 right, Furlough Cheesecake isn鈥檛 going anywhere,鈥� Howard added.
