Nonprofits Feed TSA Officers During Shutdown

0:00It's March 22nd, from your city to your ears. This is Canada News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Non-profits across the country are stepping up to feed unpaid transportation security administration officers during the partial government shutdown, hitting the Department of Homeland Security. About 50,000 TSA workers have gone more than a month without full paychecks as political talks over immigration drag on. This marks the 36th day of the lapse, affecting over 120,000 DHS employees total. Groups like World Central Kitchen and Feeding San Diego are delivering meals and food boxes right at airports in places like Washington, D.C. and San Nang, Diego. They handed out hundreds of packages with pasta, beans, produce, and peanut butter after requests from local airport authorities. Meanwhile, Operation Food Search set up a pantry at St. Louis Lambert International Airport to make it easy for workers. TSA officers face tough times, struggling to cover utility bills, medical costs for kids,

1:04and even avoiding evictions or car repossessions. Unions like the American Federation of Government employees can accept donations to pass along to members, side-stepping strict federal gifurls that block direct aid at screening spots. Airports are pitching in, too, stocking private pantries with fresh produce, household goods, and meals from vendors offering discounts. In Seattle, Tacoma, communities donated around $6,000 in cash and gift cards, plus $10,000 worth of food, helping over four, 160 people last week alone. As these efforts continue nationwide, everyone agrees the real fix is ending the shutdown, so these essential workers get their paychecks and can focus. And keeping flights safe.