Emergency food distribution held for unpaid federal airport workers
Organizers said the food will help more than 100 federal airport employees put meals on the table.
More Stories
A major food bank stepped in to feed federal workers in Westchester who are going without pay during the government shutdown.
Tami Wilson was one of several workers from Feeding Westchester and the county who helped run an emergency food distribution at Westchester County Airport on Wednesday.
"We are passing out dry, shelf-stable goods and produce," Wilson said.
Organizers said the food will help more than 100 federal airport employees put meals on the table.
"Well, since the government shutdown, they have gone without paychecks. We feel, as though, they shouldn't. Right, like we need to show up for our community and that's what we're doing," Wilson said.
News 12 wasn't allowed to interview the federal workers who received the food.
Organizers said the event in Harrison was made possible by a $10,000 donation from Stop & Shop.
Daniel Wolk, a representative from the grocery store, said the need for food is growing tremendously right now.
"Even before the government shutdown, and the potential SNAP cuts, hunger is statistically worse than it was during coronavirus which is horrific," Wolk said.
Wilson said Feeding Westchester is also stepping in to help other federal workers who aren't getting paid right now in addition to the people at the airport.
"We have a specific program right now for federal workers where you will get home deliveries via DoorDash," Wilson said.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said the programming could help more than 7,000 federal workers across the Hudson Valley.
"Some of them are on furlough, some of them were told they're going to lose their jobs. I mean it is just horrific," Jenkins said.
For more information about any of these programs, click here. https://feedingwestchester.org/find-help/
