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/Signature Flight Support 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.

About Air Charter Advisors
Air Charter Advisors is a private aviation consulting firm specializing in on-demand air charter service, jet card memberships, and aircraft management. For more information, visit aircharteradvisors.com.

About Broward's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
The Aviation Department is a self-supporting department of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. It does not rely on local tax dollars for operations and capital improvements. FLL is located in Greater Fort Lauderdale in the heart of Florida's Gold Coast. In 2019, the Airport served 36.7 million passengers with more than 380 departures a day and offered nonstop service to 84 U.S. cities and global connectivity to more than 66 international destinations in 33 countries. The Aviation Department also operates North Perry, a general aviation airport for private and charter aircraft operators. Call 954-359-6100 for more information. For updates on airport programs and services, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or visit  fll.net.