As the partial government shutdown entered its 21st day Friday and 800,000 federal employees missed their first paycheck, Transportation Security Administration employees received a boxed lunch from the Akron-Canton Airport.

“We just wanted to show our appreciation for the TSA workers who are coming in and showing up for work,” said Lisa Dalpiaz, the airport’s director of marketing. “They understand that they’re such an important part of the airport, so we appreciate what they’re doing.”

Akron-Canton Airport’s 75 TSA employees are among 420,000 federal employees deemed essential and working without pay during the partial government shutdown, which started Dec. 22 when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies.

President Donald Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress if he can’t reach a deal with Democrats to fund the construction of a wall on the United States’ southern border with Mexico.

Dalpiaz said the airport on Friday provided boxed lunches from Buehler’s to TSA agents. She said she's not sure if the airport will continue doing so in the future but said the airport will look for other ways to help TSA agents if the shutdown continues.

“In the ideal world, the shutdown will end soon, but we don’t know when it will,” said Dalpiaz, who called the TSA agents “part of our team.”

Media outlets have reported an increase in TSA agents calling off work because they aren’t getting paid. But Dalpiaz said that’s not happening at Akron-Canton Airport.

According to the TSA's website, the rate of unscheduled absences Thursday was 5.1 percent, compated to a 3.3 unscheduled absence rate a year ago on Jan. 10, 2018.

“Travel at the Akron-Canton Airport has not been impacted. Our TSA agents have been reporting to work as normal,” she said. “They have a great attitude. They know that they’re essential to air travel, and they’re part of the greater airport family. They’re coming to work to make sure travelers have a seamless travel experience.”