Many Helping Hands for Federal Employees Working at Silicon Valley’s Airport

-- SJC Partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to Feed CBP, FAA and TSA Employees Impacted by the Partial Government Shutdown --

San Jose, Calif. – Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) today to distribute food and goods to federal employees working at SJC who are impacted by the partial government shutdown. SHFB distributed hearty produce and non-perishable foods, and SJC staff donated personal hygiene items to support up to 175 federal employees and their families. See photos here.

Approximately 500 federal employees support SJC’s operation, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employing 400 people while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) each have 50 employees. These essential, highly-skilled employees continue to report for duty to serve SJC travelers and keep the Airport operating safely and securely despite not receiving a paycheck due to being furloughed, but required to be on the job.

“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 for Mineta San Jose International Airport. “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, so they can feed their families during this difficult period.”

“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 stance to support its airport staff who are affected by the furlough,” said Leslie Bacho CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “We are pleased to partner with the San Jose Airport to provide healthy food and support to employees, and to make the process as easy and as welcoming as possible as they go through this challenging time.”                                   

Some 150 federal employees visited the distribution location at SJC’s loading dock today between noon and 3 p.m. They stocked up on boxed cereals and pastas, canned vegetables and fruits, fresh produce such as carrots, celery, onions, apples and oranges, and beans and frozen sauces. Toilet paper and feminine hygiene products were also available.

Airport Department employees staffed the food and goods tables, while SHFB employees were on hand to coordinate the overall program and to register federal employees for the California state-funded CalFresh program and to educate workers on access to other resources.

Anyone in need of food assistance or who would like to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank can get more information at SHFB.org. Furloughed workers or community members in need can also call Second Harvest’s multilingual hotline at 800-984-3663.

About Second Harvest Food Bank
Based in Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties is one of the largest food banks in the nation. Currently providing food to an average of 260,000 people every month, Second Harvest is a trusted community-based organization that was founded in 1974. Despite the immense wealth in Silicon Valley, and partly due to the high cost of living, hunger and malnutrition are pervasive. The Food Bank distributes nutritious food, including more fresh produce than almost any other food bank in the country, through a network of 309 nonprofit partners at 985 sites. Second Harvest is pursuing innovative efforts to increase access to food resources as it seeks to feed more hungry people each month. To reach more people, it advocates for anti-hunger policies and connects those in need to federal nutrition programs and other food resources. To learn more about how Second Harvest is building a hunger-free community, visit SHFB.org.