Signature Flight Support sponsors Traveler's Aid Desk at TPA
The Traveler's Aid Desk at Tampa International Airport helps out thousands of needy passengers each and every year.
On Oct. 16, the volunteer-driven service received some much-appreciated help with a $10,000 donation from Signature Flight Support, a fixed-base operator and tenant at Tampa International Airport
If you haven't been lost, struggling or panicked at the Airport, you probably haven't encountered the Traveler's Aid desk. If you have, there's a good chance they saved your trip - and probably made your day along the way.
Traveler's Aid provides a variety of services, including connecting travelers with immigration services or paramedics, or providing food, diapers, baby bottles, formula, toys, blankets and much more. The facility is operated by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and serves nearly 400 passengers per week.
"We wanted to help with something, and we know how much Traveler's Aid assists people at the Airport, so we offered to fund it," said Bill Sneesby, General Manager at Signature Flight Support. "When people come to Tampa, they will have assistance - they won't just be stranded - whether their baby needs diapers or they need to find a hotel room."
The sponsorship comes during a period where funding was low and the team was unsure how they would continue to offer the service without some sort of assistance.
The amenity is staffed by almost 40 volunteers who are recruited, trained and supervised by a full-time program coordinator. Some volunteers have been with the program since its inception nearly 30 years ago.
"The investment that Signature is making in the Traveler's Aid is going to equate to tens of thousands of travelers getting the help and support that they need during a very stressful time in their lives," said Clara Reynolds, CEO and President of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. "We are very excited about this partnership, and this is such an important investment that they are willing to make in the Tampa Bay community."
The Traveler's Aid is open from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and is located on the Main Terminal Ticketing Level.