Volunteers deliver hot meals to unpaid TSA workers at O'Hare as federal government shutdown drags on

CHICAGO (WLS) -- As the federal government shutdown moves beyond two weeks, TSA employees at O'Hare are working without pay, but on Tuesday, they got a little relief.

It's a handshake and a smile; a simple act of kindness from those on a mission to help TSA workers left struggling by the shutdown.

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"Morale is low right now, but by showing support by their local leaders like myself and bringing them food, it's like a show of solidarity," said American Federation of Government Employees Local 777 President Darrell English.

The union hosted the hot meal inside a Transportation Security Administration break area in Terminal 2. It represents around 1,200 TSA workers at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports and at airports in Wisconsin.

It appears to be business as usual at the city's larger airport as TSA workers remained on the job despite not getting paid.

The effort comes after union leaders reached out to the soup kitchen at Holy Trinity Church in Elgin to help feed 400 of their airport workers.

"We decided we're going to make them something hearty and delicious. We're going to make stir fry white rice with ground beef and cabbage with a cookie," said Holy Trinity Soup Kitchen Manager Vee Armer.

Volunteers from the Chicago Mabuhay Centennial Lions Club spent most of the morning preparing and packing the meals. Helping out has a special meaning for retired government worker Reynel Espiritu.

"The problem touches home already, and we feel the pain, and that's why we are here," Espiritu said.

Union leaders say TSA workers are some of the lowest-paid federal employees, and now, because of the shutdown, they are faced with difficult choices every day and are afraid.

"A lot of our officers have young children, single parents. Even people that aren't married or have another income coming in, they have to make a difficult choice in these moments of putting food on the table, paying their electric," said Christine Vitel with American Federation of Government Employees Local 777 Illinois-Wisconsin.

Organizers say they will continue some sort of support as long as the federal government is shut down.

More meals will be delivered on Wednesday for TSA workers at O'Hare. Next week, the emphasis was shift to Midway, where TSA workers will receive hot meals there, as well.