Dennis Weeks (left) and Sydney Johnson with the Transportation Security Administration pull a cart loaded with food Friday at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill. - Photo by Charlie Kaijo

HIGHFILL -- The local food bank paired with regional airport officials Friday to help federal employees who aren't being paid during the partial government shutdown by giving them some groceries.

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank took its mobile pantry to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to support Transportation Security Administration workers and any other federal employees who are affected. Unless the Trump administration and Congress reach a deal by Tuesday, TSA screeners will go without a second paycheck in what has become the longest government shutdown in history.

Library helping out The Fayetteville Public Library will waive overdue fines for federal employees. Waives cover any overdue fines but not replacement fees or damaged material. For assistance, federal employees should bring their employment ID to the library’s checkout desk. Source: Fayetteville Public Library

Cherry Hooten, who represents TSA workers at the airport, said the shutdown has affected 68 employees. One is on furlough and the other 67 are working but not getting paid, Hooten said.

Hooten said the TSA workers are focused on continuing to do their jobs.

"We haven't had anybody calling out sick, everybody's showing up," Hooten said. "It does affect the morale a little bit just having to worry about where the money's coming from so the food, it's just a godsend."

Food bank officials said they served 45 families from TSA, Department of Interior, and other federal agencies Friday.

"It's a stress reliever, we don't really have to worry about where our next meal is coming from and we're putting money elsewhere, putting it toward our utilities or rent instead of trying to figure out how to get groceries," Hooten said.

Kent Eikenberry, president and CEO of the food bank, said he didn't hesitate when asked to help.

"It's not just for the TSA folks, it's for all of the employees," Eikenberry said. "Through no fault of these guys, they're going to work, they're doing their jobs and all of a sudden they're being asked to go to work and not get paid or they're being asked to not go to work at all. It's not right and we're blessed to have a warehouse full of food that we can share with folks."

Eikenberry said the event came together so quickly federal employees from other agencies may not have been able to attend Friday, but support is still available.

"They can go to our website and look at a list of all the pantries in Northwest Arkansas," Eikenberry said. "I would encourage them to go there or to call the food bank and we'll make sure that if you work at one of the parks or someplace else, we'll make sure that you get food."

Kelly Johnson, chief operating officer of the airport, said food bank officials rearranged their schedules to make the event happen on short notice.

"During shift change, these people coming in and going out off duty from the morning shift have a chance to pick up some food items so they can take care of their families over the weekend and, hopefully, for a few more days past that," Johnson said.

Eikenberry said employees were each given two boxes of shelf stable foods, including canned goods, beans and pasta as well as 10 pounds of chicken and some bread.

"It's a lot of groceries," Eikenberry said.

Mike Malone called Johnson on Thursday morning and asked if there was interest in giving unpaid workers a hand. He and others who work in aviation-related businesses brought lunch for TSA employees Friday to show their support. Malone is Northwest Arkansas coordinator at the Runway Group, a firm focused on developing quality of life initiatives in Arkansas.

"Wednesday, I was listening to the news and just found myself wondering what I could do to help. I remembered being laid off as a government employee many, many years ago and know how difficult it is both financially and emotionally," Malone said. "What I've found in talking to people, asking them to chip in, is everybody is wanting to do something. They really feel for the situation the federal employees are in and they're looking for ways to help."

Johnson said a Delta pilot who flew in earlier this week ordered chicken strips and other food and had it delivered to TSA employees. Airport officials provided lunch Thursday.

Johnson asked anyone interested in bringing food to the airport for TSA employees contact and coordinate with airport administration because they work in restricted areas.

"And we let them know the day before so they didn't bring food from home," she said.

Malone and Johnson said they worry about what will happen if the shutdown becomes extended.

"We're very concerned because without the TSA we don't have a checkpoint and without a checkpoint, we're closed," Johnson said. "We are very anxious for this to get resolved on a Washington level and we are certainly concerned about the staff that's out here."

Johnson said the local TSA workers have been troupers.

"I can tell you, they are dedicated people, we're not seeing sick call-ins like they are at some other airports around the country. These people understand their mission and they understand the importance of this airport to the community and to commerce," Johnson said. "They're doing their job without being paid and we need to give back for that."

Johnson said air traffic controllers at XNA are on contract and will be paid through the end of February.

"We're OK until then, but then what happens?" Johnson said.

About 800,000 government workers are affected nationwide and about 3,000 of those are in Arkansas, according to officials in 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack's office. Womack is a Republican from Rogers.

In Little Rock, what began as an ad hoc effort to help about 100 federal security screeners at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field by serving them free meals has turned into a more organized communitywide effort. It began with two airlines taking turns providing meals, including free breakfasts at an airport restaurant. Soon anonymous donors were coming forward. Now, about 20 restaurants are organizing to provide daily breakfasts and lunches for TSA employees. Community leaders and others have been pledging financial support and hands-on help.

Nationally, TSA officials say the rate of airport screeners missing work during the partial government shutdown has stabilized -- but is still at unusually high numbers -- just before a three-day holiday weekend that's likely to bring bigger airport crowds.

The TSA said Thursday that 6.1 percent of its airport screeners missed work Wednesday.

That's higher than the 5 percent absentee rate on the same day last year but the second-straight decline after the sick-out rate surged to 7.7 percent Sunday.

The agency said 4.6 percent of passengers -- or about 80,000 out of 1.79 million people screened-- waited 15 minutes or longer in checkpoint lines Wednesday.

Photo by Charlie Kaijo

Transportation Security Administration screener Terisa Flippin carries boxes of donated food Friday at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill.

NW News on 01/19/2019