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Laid-off firefighter resorts to begging

GARY, Ind., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A 10-year veteran of the Gary, Ind., fire department said he has been forced to resort to panhandling after being laid off from his job just before New Year's.

Jason Pickering told WGN-TV, Chicago, he is one of 34 Gary firefighters who got the boot.

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The 34-year-old Pickering dresses in his cold-weather firefighting gear each day and places a cardboard sign around his neck reading "Laid off Gary firefighter. Family of 6. Thank you and God bless."

Pickering said he has collected $475 since Sunday but it's not enough to make ends meet for his wife and four children.

He receives only $350 each week in unemployment compensation and will lose his health insurance at the end of January, the broadcast report said.

The city of Gary has applied for a federal grant so it can rehire the laid-off firefighters.

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