More than $10,000 worth of non-perishable food, toiletries and baby supplies have been donated to the federal worker food pantry so far, SEA Airport said.
SEATAC, Wash. — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has opened a food pantry to support federal workers who haven’t received paychecks in nearly six weeks, even as the ongoing government shutdown continues to disrupt air travel.
The shutdown, which reached day 42 on Tuesday, has forced the cancellation of more than 50 flights Tuesday and nearly 50 more Wednesday due to flight restrictions. Yet federal workers continue reporting to their posts, waving Seattle travelers through security and other sectors of the airport without pay.
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“Put yourself in their shoes,” said SEA Airport spokesperson Perry Cooper. “What would it be like if you were to show up for your job… but not getting that paycheck that you usually do every two weeks? How are you going to make your way through that?”
The airport’s answer: a federal worker food pantry located at the SEA Conference Center.
Over the past couple weeks, more than $10,000 worth of non-perishable food, toiletries and baby supplies have been donated to the pantry, Cooper said. The items supplement hot meals and airport restaurant discounts being provided to air traffic controllers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and TSA agents — all working without pay since Oct. 1.
The donation bin was empty Tuesday, its contents already distributed to workers facing the upcoming holidays without income.
“They’re out here working and letting us continue our travel experiences, get in and out of the airport, and they’re not getting paid for it,” Cooper said. “That’s a small piece for us to do to try to help them out.”
Community members can drop off donations at the SEA Conference Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The airport plans to keep the pantry running until the shutdown ends or federal paychecks resume.
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