José Andrés will keep his World Central Kitchen hub open in D.C. for a week after shutdown officially ends.

Geoff Livingston / Flickr

With the news that the longest government shutdown in history would finally come to an end, a number of groups that offered support to affected workers said Friday that they aren’t packing up and going home just yet.

José Andrés announced that World Central Kitchen would keep its hub in D.C. open through February 1to make sure that every federal worker receives their paycheck and they can start their lives again with normalcy.”  

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Demand has been high at the World Central Kitchen location, which served thousands of meals and gave out to-go packages every day.

“We need to be here for these people. Because we don’t see their faces it seems the problem is not present. But that’s why I was somehow, unfortunately, happy with this line. Because we realized the problem was real,” Andrés told DCist. “And I hope that as our politicians were driving through Pennsylvania Avenue, that line was what reminded them of why they are here. That they are here to make sure this line doesn’t happen anymore. And that their business should be to put this restaurant out of business.”

After giving out more than $30,000 earlier this month, Catholic Charities planned another series of events next week to distribute emergency funds along with groceries and a warm meal. The group says that all three events will go on as planned, and they will continue to offset the costs of rent, home supplies, medical bills, and transportation thanks to an anonymous donation (you can find details here).

“Until people’s need are taken care of, Catholic Charities will continue to help,” CEO John Enzler told DCist via email.

Meanwhile, the Pay It Furloughed project raised money to buy thousands of beers furloughed workers. The group says that there are still 2,300 brews waiting to be claimed, shutdown or not (available at Right Proper in Brookland, Atlas Brew Works, 3 Stars Brewing Company, DC Brau Brewing Company, and Shop Made in DC).

And coworking companies in D.C. and Arlington are providing free luncheons, starting each day at noon, throughout the week.

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The spending bill only temporarily reopens the government, while talks continue over the border wall.

“Obviously we’re going to be watching what happens during these next three weeks,” Andrés said in the video. “If for some reason things go wrong again, we will be there for them.” 

Natalie Delgadillo contributed reporting. This story has been updated.