Right now in Greenville, more than 120 federal employees at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers under the Department of Homeland Security, are going to work every day without knowing when their next paycheck will come.
Last week, that paycheck was zero. And before that, it was only partial.
These are the people who keep our airport moving. Who ensure safe travel. Who show up, even when the system around them stalls.
And like many in our community, they have bills to pay, families to support and commutes that can stretch up to an hour each way.
The financial strain adds up quickly:
Groceries. Gas. Rent. Utilities.
That’s where community comes in.
At Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, a food and personal essentials drive is already underway, with donations collected daily and distributed through an on-site pantry serving federal workers and their families. Neighbors are stepping up — dropping off food, gas cards and financial support to help bridge the gap.
Now, United Way of Greenville County is stepping in alongside Self-Help Federal Credit Union and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to expand that support.
Through United for Federal Employees, all impacted workers at GSP now have access to 0% emergency loans, regardless of credit union membership status. United Way is covering the 3.5% interest typically required for non-members, ensuring fast, barrier-free access to funds when it’s needed most.
Self-Help Federal Credit Union is also bringing this support directly on-site at the airport, making it easier for employees to access help without added travel or complexity.
And while loans provide the fastest path to relief, additional community resources are available.
This is what it means to show up for each other, and when United is the Way.