Members,

Please see a message below from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Air Charter Advisors, and Signature Aviation regarding a food drive for FLL workers impacted by COVID-19 job cuts:

“Operation Uplift” Initiative to Benefit Displaced Airport Employees

   - Food distribution for FLL workers impacted by COVID-19 job cuts -

BROWARD COUNTY, FL – On Saturday, May 30, 2020, Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will host a food distribution event in partnership with Air Charter Advisors and Signature Aviation, to benefit airport community employees financially impacted due to COVID-19.  

The food giveaway is the culmination of the airport's "Operation Uplift" outreach initiative launched in early May to collect nonperishable goods to support laid off and furloughed workers across FLL's commercial and general aviation partners, tenants, and service providers/suppliers. 

The drive-thru event is scheduled for 10AM-12PM on a vacant lot near Signature Aviation along Southwest 11th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale. 

Since March, millions of American jobs have been lost as businesses close doors or temporarily restrict operations due to federal, state, and local government stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. 

With fewer people traveling, aviation, in particular, has been hard hit, resulting in thousands of parked commercial and private planes, and emptier terminals with shuttered concessions in airports nationwide. As a result, hundreds of employees across the FLL Airport Community from customer service agents to concession and cleaning staff and wheelchair attendants, among other front line personnel, have lost their livelihood or had it curtailed due to COVID-19 impacts.

"This is just one small way we can come together as an airport community to assist impacted employees and their families during this challenging and uncertain time," said Mark E. Gale, CEO/Director of Aviation. "Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated items to help our impacted colleagues through this period of difficulty and economic hardship." 

Air Charter Advisors President Adam Steiger said he saw “Operation Uplift” as an opportunity to help the less fortunate in the industry who had lost their jobs and were struggling to make ends meet.

"I want to give back to the community and help put food on as many tables as possible," Steiger said, who personally financed a large portion of the donated items and made multiple trips to grocery stores to purchase food and household supplies. "Partnering with FLL and Signature Aviation seemed like it would be a great fit, and I knew that by teaming up, we could make a greater impact."

During Saturday's drive-thru event, displaced FLL Airport Community workers will receive pre-packed bags with essential household items, including canned goods, paper products, and toiletries.