Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) are stepping up to support federal employees impacted by the ongoing federal government shutdown. From Thursday, March 19, onward all eligible federal employees are invited to receive a complimentary lunch at the Samaritan’s Purse Airlift Response Center in Greensboro. A free meal is also being offered at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. A valid federal employee ID will be required.
“We are grateful for the federal workers who dedicate themselves to serving in these roles that our country depends on,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian disaster relief organization, and BGEA, a global evangelism organization. “We want to serve them and thank them as they go through a challenging time. We want them to know that we care—and most importantly, that God loves them and cares about them.”
Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team will be available in Charlotte and Greensboro to encourage and pray with federal employees.
During the previous government shutdown in Nov. 2025, Samaritan’s Purse and BGEA served approximately 2,800 free lunches to federal staff.











