SAN JOSE — Mineta San Jose International Airport and Second Harvest Food Bank teamed up Wednesday to help federal employees working at the airport who have not been paid during the partial government shutdown.
The food bank doled out “hearty produce” and nonperishable food, while Airport Department workers donated personal hygiene products to support up to 175 federal employees and their families, the airport said in a news release.
Some 500 federal employees work at SJC, with the Transportation Security Administration employing 400 and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Federal Aviation Administration employing 50 each.
“Our federal employees continue to report for duty and are a key reason why SJC has continued to operate safely, securely and efficiently since the partial government shutdown began on Dec. 22, 2018, during the peak-travel holiday period,” said Judy Ross, assistant director of aviation.
“It’s important that we collaborate with Second Harvest Food Bank and other community partners and demonstrate how much we care about our fellow employees,” Ross continued, “so they can feed their families during this difficult period.”
According to the news release, 150 federal employees visited the airport loading dock, where they stocked up on boxed cereals and pastas, canned vegetables and fruits, fresh produce and frozen sauces. Toilet paper and feminine hygiene products were also available.
Airport Department employees manned the food and goods tables, while food bank employees helped register federal employees for the California state-funded Calfresh program.
“We’ve heard from a number of federal workers in the community who have been struggling during the shutdown, so we are pleased that San Jose is taking such a proactive stances to support its airport staff who are affected by the furlough,” said Second Harvest Food Bank CEO Leslie Bacho.
“We are pleased to partner with San Jose Airport to provide healthy food and support to employees,” Bacho continued, “and to make the process as easy and as welcoming as they go through this challenging time.”
Last week, San Francisco International Airport urged its various shops and restaurants to slash prices by 50 percent for federal employees impacted by the shutdown.
The shutdown, which reached the 33-day mark Wednesday, is the longest in U.S. history
Anyone in need of food assistance or who would like to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank can get more information at www.shfb.org. Furloughed federal employees or community members in need can also contact the food bank’s multilingual hotline at 800-984-3663.
