January 22, 2019 — Thirty-five full-time Coast Guard service members are assigned to the Noyo River Coast Guard Station in Fort Bragg. There are no reservists or civilian employees attached to the station, but the servicemembers have a total of thirty-two dependents.
As a small boat station, their primary mission is search and rescue operations, for about 100 miles of coastline and 50 miles offshore. With the opening of the commercial crabbing season, they also keep an eye on fishing boats and provide help when anything goes wrong.
Like many federal employees, these sailors are working, but not getting paid during the partial federal shutdown. The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance program does offer interest-free loans to servicemembers, as a form of federal funding lapse assistance.
But community members want to make sure the sailors in Fort Bragg know how much they appreciate them. We’ll start off hearing from Annie Liner, who heads up the Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund. As of last week, this organization had raised $17,000 to help buy various necessary items and pay bills. Most of the sailors rent their homes on the local economy, using housing allowances which are included in their paychecks.
We’ll also hear from Eric and Christina Poos, the new owners of Vinny’s Pizza, which is right around the corner from the Noyo River Station. They’ve donated pies, though Eric Poos noted there have been a few times when he’s offered, and someone else has already provided food.
The community is rallying, but Liner worries about the long-term effects the shutdown may have on financial planning.
You can find out more about how the Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund is helping out here.