Food pantry set up for OIA workers impacted by shutdown

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The community is helping airport workers impacted by the shutdown by opening up a food pantry at Orlando International Airport.

The collection drive has two dropoff locations: the dropoff for those who work at the airport is near the Frontier ticketing area and one for the public is in the valet area near Departures in Terminal A. 

Frontier Airline employees worked on Wednesday to help collect donations. 

Doug Lowe, the local PASS president -- a union that represents airline inspectors, is getting paid close to nothing during the partial government shutdown. 

“A coworker of mine, we carpooled today to make sure we saved on gas,” said PASS President Doug Lowe.

Doug reacted to the airport's food pantry saying that "the amount of outreach and support is very, very nice and it's a blessing. To have people, it brings us to tears."

However, Doug says that while he is grateful for the outpouring of support, the airport food pantry is also depressing. “It’s so sad that it's come to this and to this extent. that there's no end in sight," he says.

Southwest flight attendant Emily Hunt dropped off oatmeal and granola bars to the airport food pantry. She said that “I feel bad because I see these faces everyday and they're not getting a paycheck but I am, so I feel, I feel bad for them."

On Wednesday, donations continued to pour in, as travelrs, employees, and community members brought in boxes of food, toiletries, and baby supplies. 

If you’d like to drop off items, you can do so Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the valet area at Departures in Terminal A.