PHOTOS: Furloughed government worker juggles odd jobs
PHOTOS: Furloughed government worker juggles odd jobs
Chris George’s pickup truck displays a Lyft sticker on its back window outside a home where he works as a handyman, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. George, a 48-year-old US Army veteran and federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, shakes hands with a passenger in his pickup truck while driving for Lyft to make ends meet Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. “Sometimes I stay at home because I don’t want to waste my gas driving around making $30 when it’s going to cost me $40 to put gas in my vehicle,” said George. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, holds cards made for his Lyft passengers Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The 48-year-old US Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, leaves his home for a free meal offered to federal workers affected by the government shutdown Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, orders his meal at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The restaurant offered free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, waits for his meal at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The restaurant offered free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, turns the kitchen lights off as he leaves home for a free meal offered to federal workers affected by the government shutdown Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, takes off his boots at his home adorned with an American flag after spending the day working as a handyman Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, fixes a bathroom faucet, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, fixes a water pipe while working as a handyman Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, makes a phone call in his pickup truck to set up an interview for a job as a driving instructor Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The 48-year-old Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, installs a gas stove Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, takes a short break while working as a handyman to make ends meet Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, looks for a document in his room adorned with Smokey Bear posters Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. The 48-year-old Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George’s pickup truck displays a Lyft sticker on its back window outside a home where he works as a handyman, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. George, a 48-year-old US Army veteran and federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George’s pickup truck displays a Lyft sticker on its back window outside a home where he works as a handyman, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. George, a 48-year-old US Army veteran and federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, shakes hands with a passenger in his pickup truck while driving for Lyft to make ends meet Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. “Sometimes I stay at home because I don’t want to waste my gas driving around making $30 when it’s going to cost me $40 to put gas in my vehicle,” said George. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, shakes hands with a passenger in his pickup truck while driving for Lyft to make ends meet Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. “Sometimes I stay at home because I don’t want to waste my gas driving around making $30 when it’s going to cost me $40 to put gas in my vehicle,” said George. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, holds cards made for his Lyft passengers Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The 48-year-old US Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, holds cards made for his Lyft passengers Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The 48-year-old US Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, leaves his home for a free meal offered to federal workers affected by the government shutdown Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, leaves his home for a free meal offered to federal workers affected by the government shutdown Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, orders his meal at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The restaurant offered free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, orders his meal at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The restaurant offered free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, waits for his meal at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The restaurant offered free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, waits for his meal at a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The restaurant offered free meals to furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, turns the kitchen lights off as he leaves home for a free meal offered to federal workers affected by the government shutdown Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, turns the kitchen lights off as he leaves home for a free meal offered to federal workers affected by the government shutdown Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, takes off his boots at his home adorned with an American flag after spending the day working as a handyman Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, takes off his boots at his home adorned with an American flag after spending the day working as a handyman Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, fixes a bathroom faucet, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, fixes a bathroom faucet, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, fixes a water pipe while working as a handyman Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, fixes a water pipe while working as a handyman Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, makes a phone call in his pickup truck to set up an interview for a job as a driving instructor Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The 48-year-old Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, makes a phone call in his pickup truck to set up an interview for a job as a driving instructor Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in Redlands, Calif. The 48-year-old Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, installs a gas stove Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, installs a gas stove Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. The 48-year-old federal worker has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, takes a short break while working as a handyman to make ends meet Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, takes a short break while working as a handyman to make ends meet Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Fontana, Calif. “I have a lot of pride, so asking for help is difficult for me. It’s very difficult for me because I’m always the one giving back or putting myself before anybody else,” said George. “Now, here I am in the situation where I’m the one that is in need.” (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, looks for a document in his room adorned with Smokey Bear posters Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. The 48-year-old Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Chris George, a federal employee furloughed from his job as a forestry technician supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, looks for a document in his room adorned with Smokey Bear posters Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Hemet, Calif. The 48-year-old Army veteran and federal employee has been working as a handyman and driving for Lyft to make ends meet since the government shutdown began.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Furloughed U.S. Forest Service worker Chris George has never been busier.
He scrambles daily to do handywork and small remodeling jobs at homes in the hardscrabble desert town of Hemet, east of Los Angeles. In between, he works for Lyft, spending up to 10 hours in the car just to make $100.
When he’s not doing that, he is on the phone, trying to save his credit standing _ now threatened thanks to the Dec. 22 government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, which has left 800,000 federal workers without pay.