TSA collecting food/toy donations for IAD employees
 

The Post had a story last week about this campaign TSA workers at IAD started to collect food donations for laid-off airport employees that mentioned that the formerly-flying public is welcome to participate too. I've since seen from the TSA press release that they're also taking donations of toys. Have any of y'all dropped off anything? I'm tempted to put together a couple of bags of groceries and toys and drive over myself because a) these people helped me travel back when I could and b) I haven't seen Saarinen's terminal since early January.

thanks for posting, hadn't seen that. I have worked with a police sergeant there who for years has organized food drives for airport workers around the holidays; my Lions club has participated with her several times and I would not be surprised to find out they end up doing something together. A very large number of airport workers make very close to minimum wage (not withstanding living wage clauses in concessions contracts) and frequently hold two jobs at the airports. The DC region is not one of those metropolitan areas where even a "living wage" affords the ability to save a month's worth of wages let alone a safety cushion of at least several months.....good on the TSA folks.

Two updates:

1) I drove out to IAD today to drop off a few bags of toys and groceries. The pantry location isn't super-obvious to find: Enter on the arrivals-level entrance, walk left over to bag claim 6, then look to your left for a small sign by the outside wall. Follow the arrow on it to walk down a narrow hall and turn right through a door, and you'll find this room. FYI, parking in the terminal lot is down to $6/hour or $10/day, and you should have your choice of spots.

2) TSA has also opened up a pantry at DCA for food and toiletries. The press release doesn't specifically mention donations from the public, but the described location in Terminal A across from the lost-and-found office puts it landside.