Service feeds furloughed workers

SANDPOINT — If Friday’s abrupt end to the partial federal government shutdown doesn’t take, Sandpoint Curry still has the backs of furloughed government workers.

The Indian/Pakistani carry-out cuisine service has been serving up free dishes to idled federal workers during the 34-day shutdown, the longest shutdown in the nation’s history.

So far, Sandpoint Curry has donated 26 plates of food to government workers, in addition to others who are navigating their way through family tragedies, according to Alyssa DuVall, Sandpoint Curry’s social media manager.

DuVall said that Sandpoint Curry’s owners, Pete and Fiona Hicks, resolved to help idled federal workers after watching friends struggle with the effects of the partial shutdown.

“It’s a community initiative. Sandpoint is coming together to support Sandpoint,” DuVall said.

Sandpoint Curry, formerly known as Curry In a Hurry, is open from 12-6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at the Panhandle Eats Food Court on Kootenai Cutoff Road in Ponderay. Sandpoint Curry also serves up dishes at MickDuff’s Beer Hall in downtown Sandpoint on Thursdays and Fridays from 5-7:30 p.m.

Sandpoint Curry is collecting donations for the furloughed workers at La Chic Boutique in Sandpoint.

Any donations which are not used to help the area’s furloughed workers are passed onto the Bonner Community Food Bank, according to DuVall.

Sandpoint Curry is also partnering with Evans Brothers Coffee for a “Chai Off” on Valentine’s Day if the shutdown ultimately persists.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.