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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It was less pizza party, more goodwill gesture.

Furloughed Transportation Security Administration workers and U.S. Customs agents at the Albuquerque International Sunport were treated to pizza and soft drinks for lunch on Thursday, courtesy of Albuquerque Police Department’s Aviation Unit.

Shaun Willoughby, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said the officers who work at the airport “took it upon themselves to pass the hat” and collect money to buy lunch for the federal employees who are reporting to work without pay during the government shutdown.

“We all live paycheck to paycheck, so it’s hard to imagine what their families must be going through. It’s a small gesture of appreciation,” Willoughby said. “These federal counterparts work together with APD officers every single day and the officers just wanted to do something nice for them.”

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The APOA, he said, kicked in about one third of the cost for the lunch.

“We’re just happy to be a part and help support our (aviation unit) officers and counterparts at TSA and Customs who are on furlough,” Willoughby said.

APD officers brought more than 40 pizzas of all types from Pizza 9, and a variety of soft drinks to the airport for the lunch.

“It was totally unexpected,” said Sunport TSA spokeswoman Jackie Mixon-Johnson. “We work as a team here to keep the airport and travelers safe, so any show of support is greatly appreciated by our workforce.”

Because of TSA security rules, Mixon-Johnson would not say how many TSA employees work at the airport, or how many of them are on duty during the government shutdown. It has been reported that 10 percent of TSA workers nationwide have been calling in sick.

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