MACON, Ga. — The sizzle of a deep fryer fills the air. It's Tuesday morning and the staff at Blitz Seafood Sports Bar and Grill in Warner Robins is hard at work prepping meals for airport employees in Macon.
"We're gonna be eating good," says chef Henry Hammonds.
All staff at Middle Georgia Regional Airport were invited to the free luncheon courtesy of Blitz, but Hammonds says his team's focus was on federal employees working without pay.
"We wanted to do our little part in helping the community and helping the TSA workers," said the chef.
When the Blitz staff delivered their spread, complete with more than 100 fried chicken wings, to the airport, turnout was solid.
And judging from the smiles on diners' faces, the meals were a hit.
But the deeper reason for the lunch still weighed on some minds.
"I don't know how long it's gonna last," said Cassie Kenney.
Kenney's husband Zachary is a TSA agent at Middle Georgia Regional Airport. Department policy prohibits agents from speaking to media on camera, but his wife can -- and did.
She said the shutdown has been a challenge but they're trying to stay optimistic.
"It's been difficult, him having to work without pay," she said. "I'm having to pay all the bills, but we're going to make it. We've been through harder. We're just taking it one day at a time."
The source of her optimism, in part, is perspective.
"We have savings, we have my job, but there are also other people who have families who are literally dependent upon this job for them, so I really feel for them," she said.
Ernest Harris, the operations manager at Blitz, said getting to bring a moment of escape from those worries, even if it was just a moment, was a job they were happy to take on.
"If we could just free their minds just for a minute, serving them a hot meal, I think that's doing them a good service," said Harris.