Local hospitals providing free meals for U.S. Coast Guard
–With the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are currently working without pay – that includes the U.S. Coast Guard.
For the duration of the shutdown, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital are offering Active Duty U.S. Coast Guard members and their immediate families, free meals in both dining rooms. They just need to verify their status by showing their government ID cards, as well as their dependents, or by wearing their uniform.
Mark Lisa, CEO of Sierra Vista and Twin Cities, a retired Naval Officer, wants to make sure U.S. Coast Guard members know they are being supported.
“With a hard working U.S. Coast Guard station right down the road in Morro Bay, we want to be at the forefront of assistance for these brave men and women,” Lisa said. “The Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus, which means ‘Always Prepared.’ Our country and specifically our Central Coast expects these Coast Guardsmen to always be prepared, even now, so we need to be prepared to support them.”
The free meals begin immediately and will continue through the duration of the shutdown.
