Florence Prison employees brace for a long shutdown

As Southern border talks continue in DC, some families in southern Colorado are dealing with life under a government shutdown, e specially in Fremont County where hundreds are working without pay at the federal prison.

The Florence Prison Complex is the largest of its kind in the country. With the partial government shutdown, it’s business as usual inside the prison for the inmates. But for the men and women that work here, it’s a different story.

“Worrisome is the word I would use,” said Richard Arko, Union President for the workers at the Federal Prison, when asked to describe the state of mind of his fellow employees. “We just don’t know when we are going to get paid.”

Arko says things are getting more desperate by the day.

“Our payday is next Friday or Saturday, depending on what day your banks is, and with the shutdown right now we are going to miss that next paycheck. So, that’s a month without a check,” said Arko

Arko encourages employees to pick up groceries at food banks like ‘My Neighbors Cupboard’ in Penrose. It’s been four weeks into the partial shutdown, and he says simple purchases like food and gas are becoming luxuries.

The shutdown hasn’t just put an estimated 3,500 people in the area under a financial strain, it has also taken a mental toll as well.

Emily Holbrooks knows this first hand through her husband who is an employee and Vice President of the Union.

“It’s really hard because I can see the stress he’s going through,” said Holbrooks. “He’s not sleeping he’s not eating. He’s having nightmares in the middle of the night.”

As for what’s going on in DC, employees in Fremont County are done with the political squabbling between both sides of the aisle. They want action.

“They need to leave their politics alone and do what’s right for the employees and people they essentially work for,” said John Holbrooks the Vice President of the Union. “They need to come together and do what’s right.”

When asked if they think the shutdown will end soon, prison employees and their families are skeptical. For now, all they can do is prepare for a long shutdown.

To help with those preparations you can donate to ‘My Neighbors Cupboard’ here.

Last Tuesday, KRDO ran a story on the food pantry in Penrose’s efforts to keep families affected by the shutdown fed.

Thanks to KRDO viewer, alongside donations and help from throughout the entire state, they have been able to feed more than 500 families. However, as quickly as they stock the shelves, the food is being bagged and taken out the door by families.

“Reality has really really set in now for employees and their families,” said Amanda Suddoth of ‘My Neighbors Cuboard’. “They are coming around the clock. We’ve got donations coming in and as fast as they are coming in they are going out the door. This morning has been exceptionally busy. We haven’t had a second for a break, and our shelves are running bare. We are trying our best to get them restocked so we just really appreciate the love the community has put it. It has been fantastic.”

The food pantry always needs more food as well as gas cards so the employees and families can get to and from work.