After organizing several free meals for PDX employees, Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection team members raised the bar once again – this time organizing a pantry event for airport employees in need of food and supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Thanks to generous donations from airport colleagues, the pantry was fully stocked with more than 1,000 cans and jars filled with pasta sauce, vegetables, fruit, peanut butter, jam, chili and tuna; 200 bags and boxes of dried pasta, mac ‘n’ cheese and ramen; hundreds of miscellaneous shelf stable items like rice, beans, oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, dried fruit and nuts; as well as diapers, baby items and personal hygiene products. The most popular pantry items? People were especially glad to see more than 200 rolls of toilet paper and a wide array of cleaning products.

Thanks are in order for Walt Marchbanks (Customer Relations), Anne Elliott and Brian Sweeney (Airport Operations), Pat O’Halloran, James Esse, Kane Shapiro and Stephen Hayes (TSA), Tyler Porter, Ed Colford (CBP) and the many other CBP officers that assisted with the event. Appreciation also goes out to the PDX USO team, who delivered a surprise donation of toiletry bags, candy and treats.

“Each employee that came through the line commented on the thoughtfulness of the donations, as most of these items are so hard to find in stores,” said event organizer Kathleen McDonald of TSA. “I echo airport employees’ emphatic thank you to everyone who contributed to the pantry event. Together we made lives a little easier for our PDX People today.”