Amid a government shutdown, The Avenue Restaurant in Wyoming is supporting unpaid TSA workers with gift cards and donations for community solidarity.
WYOMING, Pa. — “Give them, give them what they’re due, you know what I mean? I mean, I worked my whole life, I got paid, I mean, what the heck, you know?” says Marty Redding of Wyoming.
A lot of folks here at The Avenue Restaurant in Wyoming share that feeling after hearing TSA workers haven’t been getting paid due to a partial government shutdown.
Rose Yarmel from Pittston says, “It’s just absolutely outrageous, I feel so bad for those people, not being able to pay rent, get food, medicine, and so on.”
Paulette Becker of Shavertown, “It shouldn’t be, if Congress is getting paid, the federal workers should get paid.”
That’s why The Avenue’s owner decided to donate gift cards to each TSA employee at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. Owner David Krappa says, “I was speaking to someone from the airport, and they were telling me, actually, there were 41 TSA workers, and that shocked me completely.”
It was especially shocking because of his own experience as a restaurant owner during COVID, where Krappa says community support was necessary to keep doors open to weather the pandemic.
“I mean, let’s face it, all the restaurants in the valley, we struggled, we didn’t know how we were going to pay our bills, how we’re going to pay staffing and everything else, but luckily with all the great and loyal customers we had, they got us through it,” adds Krappa.
From gift cards to a collection jar with more than $100 donated so far, The Avenue’s hoping to support its local TSA workers.
“It’s rewarding to see our hard work paying off, and we’re helping other families that are struggling,” says Krappa.
And customers are helping out too. Rose Armel from Pittston says, “My heart breaks for those workers, and I just want to support whatever I can do for them.”