In the midst of the ongoing partial government shutdown, TSA agents are continuing their essential work without pay, prompting community members in Montgomery County, Maryland, to take action by providing them with the support they need to put food on their tables.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Maryland (WMAR) — With TSA agents facing the unprecedented challenge of working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown, various members of the community are coming together to ensure that they have sufficient food resources.
At the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, volunteers are actively packaging 600 boxes every week filled with essential grocery items.
“We want to be able to help. People need food,” said volunteer Mary Brigid Frye. “I picked up a couple of additional shifts this week just to assist in getting these boxes ready because the need is significant. Typically, we don’t have this many volunteers on a single day.”
This charitable effort began following a request for assistance from a worker at Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Airport.
“Whenever we can, we aim to respond as swiftly as possible. In this situation, we are grateful for the generosity shown by our county, which provided resources during the previous shutdown. Thanks to that support, some of the remaining resources were redirected to this initiative,” stated Leah Paley, CEO of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
The funding for these donations has been facilitated by the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management.
“Along with non-perishable items, we will also be supplying fresh produce, including onions, potatoes, and apples. Our goal is to ensure that we provide a complete meal,” Paley added.
Community members have further contributed by dropping off donations, and World Central Kitchen has also stepped in, delivering meals from local favorites such as Miss Shirley’s Cafe. These collective efforts are making a heartfelt impact.
“I received a call from one of the TSA employees at the airport who expressed her gratitude upon receiving a food box. She mentioned that it truly made a difference in their situation,” Paley shared.
This article was originally reported on-air by our journalist and has been adapted for this platform with the support of AI. WMAR verifies all reporting across all platforms to ensure fairness and accuracy.
