NEWARK, N.J. (WPVI) — A growing number of federal workers are missing paychecks due to the government shutdown, including those who keep our airports running.
The USDA is warning that SNAP benefits will run out at the end of the week.
RELATED: Air traffic controllers to miss 1st full paycheck Tuesday, furthering staffing concerns and delays
To help, a food distribution event was held for federal workers on Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey gave out fresh produce and pantry items to TSA employees and air traffic controllers who are set to miss their first full paycheck due to the government shutdown.
“This is very specific to the shutdown. So, I mean, of course, if a federal worker had food insecurity in their lives, they could come to one of our pantries. But a focused effort like this is very much due to the fact that they are now missing paychecks,” said
Elizabeth McCarthy, President and CEO of CFBNJ.
Community Food Bank brought three tractor-trailers full of food to the four-hour distribution event and pallets of food were donated by Stop & Shop to help 2,000 families.
RELATED: Trump administration posts notice that no federal food aid will go out Nov. 1
“We had people telling us they were getting eviction notices, that they were really not going to be able to pay their utilities. And so we quickly got this into action, really in just a matter of days,” said McCarthy.
The federal employees on the receiving end showed lots of gratitude.
“They’re happy for the food that they’re getting today to put on their table for their families. That meant a lot to us. And, of course, we’ve been having a conversation about, you know, we thank you for being here. We know how hard it is some days to come to work, but we appreciate you every single day,” said Shari Williams, Customer Service Manager of Stop & Shop.
For more information, visit Feedingamerica.com.
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