Van Horn Law Group supports Thanksgiving food drive for paycheckless government workers at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, PA

November 11, Latrobe, Pa – A cold and breezy November day at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pennsylvania was transformed by an outpouring of warm hearts who came together to support the families of the Air Traffic Controllers and other federal workers who have forgone their last three paychecks, now less than two weeks before Thanksgiving.

The Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council, and the Westmoreland Food Bank joined forces bright and early on November 11 to provide non-perishable and perishable food items including turkeys, for the approximately 25 families of the federal workers who have kept the airport running during the 40-plus days of the federal government shutdown. The Van Horn Law Group was proud to participate and donate to the cause.

The Latrobe airport workers served by the event are members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a union whose members have been hit particularly hard by the shutdown and the Department of Government Efficiency Cuts (DOGE) earlier this year. More than 283,000 federal workers lost their jobs and many of them were members of AFGE. Affected workers hit by DOGE firings and the federal shutdown have had to rely on credit cards, personal loans, or defer mortgage and rent payments, leading to increased personal debt.

In addition to financial hardship, the DOGE cuts and federal shutdown has led to increased mental health issues including high anxiety and depression. Many federal employees reported feeling demoralized, anxious, and uncertain about their futures. The sudden loss of job security has deeply shaken workers.

At the Van Horn Law Group, we understand debt and the impact it has on financial security, quality of life, and mental health. We work with people every day to help them deal with credit card debt, potential mortgage foreclosure, auto repossession, medical debt, and other issues related to job loss and circumstances beyond the control of our clients. We understand the situation many of the government employees are in who have lost their jobs due to arbitrary job cuts that had nothing to do with their job performance or work history.

If you or someone you know finds yourself or themselves in this situation, we are here to help. We specialize in helping people get out of debt and find their fresh starts. Learn more.