With the federal government shutdown in its 30th day and some Washington politicians predicting the shutdown will continue into November, a movement has developed to provide food for federal workers at the Westchester County Airport who are required to report for work but are not being paid.
Feeding Westchester, in partnership with Westchester County and Stop & Shop, held a food distribution Oct. 29 at the airport to support the unpaid federal workers who include Transportation Security Administration (TSA) passenger screening personnel and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers. Food boxes for 110 airport workers were distributed. Stop & Shop contributed $10,000 to fund the distribution.
It also was announced that companies that handle transient aircraft and aircraft based at the airport will be accepting food donations for federal workers at their facilities. Residents wishing to help can donate nonperishable food at drop-off boxes located at the Million Air FBO, Atlantic West FBO, and Atlantic East FBO at the airport. In-person donations are also accepted at Feeding Westchester’s Distribution Center, 200 Clearbrook Road in Elmsford.
“The challenges ahead are real, but so is the strength of this community. said Tami Wilson, CEO of Feeding Westchester. “Together, we’ll make sure our neighbors don’t go hungry.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “We know during this federal shutdown that our neighbors that are here working as federal employees, whether they’re TSA or in the air traffic control area, it’s a concern. They continue to show up and do their job with professionalism and pride. This community has their back. However, we have to be honest; we understand the situation should have never gotten to this point. The mess in Washington just needs to stop. All of our federal workers here today — thank you, thank you , thank you for what each of you do for us every day to keep this airport safe and efficient.”
Daniel Wolk, external communications manager for Stop & Shop said the supermarket chain was “proud to support Feeding Westchester’s work to help federal employees and their families during this challenging time.”
In addition to the on-site airport distribution, Feeding Westchester has in place a home-delivery program for all federal employees living in Westchester County. It is preparing shelf-stable food boxes to be delivered on Thursdays, while supplies last, via DoorDash, which is waiving all delivery fees for the program.
Previously, members of the Airport Advisory Board were told that the government shutdown has affected some FAA projects at the airport. A new flight route for some arriving aircraft that was supposed to have gone into effect was postponed being implemented because of the shutdown. The route would have kept some arriving aircraft over Long Island Sound longer and way from some homes. An FAA construction project on a navigation aid at the airport that was supposed to have been done on Oct. 20 has now been put off until 2026. The FAA’s investigation into prices being charged for keeping light general aviation aircraft at the airport also is believed to have slowed because of the shutdown.
April Gasparri, executive director of aviation at the airport said that the mindset of TSA workers at Westchester County Airport is positive.
“We see them, they say ‘we’ve gotten through this before, we’ll get through this again,'” Gasparri said.
“(Westchester County Airport) falls under the same umbrella chain of command as LaGuardia Airport, as Stewart, as Islip. They can share transportation security officers across airports if needed. It’s difficult regardless. Everyone is pitching in and helping out by morale, show of support, food … but continuity and screening and operations are continuing.”
