Georgia’s Own Credit Union and RaceTrac offered free gas to TSA employees between 12:00 – 2:00pm on Friday, January 25, 2019 on the 35th day of the government shut down at one location in Hapeville, Ga. and one location in College Park, Ga. Both RaceTrac and Georgia’s Own Credit Union are celebrating their 85th anniversaries this year and they partnered to offer 8.5 gallons of free gas to TSA employees to celebrate. Later that day, President Donald Trump signed a bill to reopen the government through February 1, but many federal employees continue to feel nervous about the possibility of another shutdown. (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Georgia’s Own Credit Union and RaceTrac offered free gas to TSA employees between 12:00 – 2:00pm on Friday, January 25, 2019 on the 35th day of the government shut down at one location in Hapeville, Ga. and one location in College Park, Ga. Later that day, President Donald Trump signed a bill to reopen the government through February 15, but many federal employees continue to feel nervous about the possibility of another shutdown. (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Patrick Sebastian poses in front of his car at RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where he is getting free gas because he works for the Transportation Security Administration. Sebastian has worked for TSA for 16 years. Before the end of the shutdown Sebastian said, “The hardest part is coming to work and looking at your coworkers and no one has any answers, even the managers. There’s no hope anywhere.” One week into the government reopening he said, “We really feel that they re-opened the government to cover the Super Bowl. Right now I’m in fear of it shutting down again. I went out and found another job just in case it shuts down again.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Jamie Keys poses in front of his car at Ra RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where he is getting free gas because he works for the Transportation Security Administration. Keys has worked for TSA for 14 years. He drove for Uber more frequently to make ends met instead of going to work at the airport during the shutdown. “I go in a couple of days a week a when it’s affordable for me. I live far away so it’s a waste of gas,” he said. (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Iris Wilson poses for a portrait at RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where she is getting free gas because she works for the Transportation Security Administration. “We feel like pawns on a chess board,” she said a week after the government reopened. “They know that they had to get the super bowl here, they had to because they would have lost money. What about the other days out of the year, the super bowl is one day,” she said, “I feel helpless.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Iris Wilson poses for a portrait at RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where she is getting free gas because she works for the Transportation Security Administration. “We feel like pawns on a chess board,” she said a week after the government reopened. “They know that they had to get the super bowl here, they had to because they would have lost money. What about the other days out of the year, the super bowl is one day,” she said, “I feel helpless.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Latasha Scales poses for a portrait at RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where she is getting free gas because she works for the Transportation Security Administration. On the 35th day of the shutdown, Scales said, “Last year was only a week. We can’t pay bills, afford food or gas. Some people are about to be put our of their places.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Shunere poses for a portrait at RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where she is getting free gas because she works for the Transportation Security Administration. “My mom just had brain surgery and I was supposed to help out financially,” she explained before the end of the shutdown. “They’re calling me to make arrangements for rehab and I’m not able to. I have a baby to provide for. I’m a lead officer and I’m kind of stuck between working for the operation and looking out for everyone else.” A week into the government being reopened she said, “I’m a little mentally relieved but not fully confident because there’s still that fear that it might happen again. Mentally relieved but still worried. We’re hoping for the best.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Shunere poses for a portrait at RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where she is getting free gas because she works for the Transportation Security Administration. “My mom just had brain surgery and I was supposed to help out financially,” she explained before the end of the shutdown. “They’re calling me to make arrangements for rehab and I’m not able to. I have a baby to provide for. I’m a lead officer and I’m kind of stuck between working for the operation and looking out for everyone else.” A week into the government being reopened she said, “I’m a little mentally relieved but not fully confident because there’s still that fear that it might happen again. Mentally relieved but still worried. We’re hoping for the best.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Yonsen Stodghill poses for a portrait in front of his car at a RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where he is getting free gas because he is an employee of the Transportation Security Administration. He is a Navy veteran of 20 years and has worked for TSA for 13 years. “I don’t like it. To use us as a pawn in what they want to do, that’s the bad part. Especially with the young people with babies who don’t have any savings,” he said during the shut down, “If you haven’t struggled, you don’t understand the struggle.” A week into the government reopening he said, “We opened it but nobody said a word. I think they’re going to wait to the last week until they talk about it. We’re still at a standstill and we don’t know what’s going to happen to us on the 15th.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Yonsen Stodghill poses for a portrait in front of his car at a RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where he is getting free gas because he is an employee of the Transportation Security Administration. He is a Navy veteran of 20 years and has worked for TSA for 13 years. “I don’t like it. To use us as a pawn in what they want to do, that’s the bad part. Especially with the young people with babies who don’t have any savings,” he said during the shut down, “If you haven’t struggled, you don’t understand the struggle.” A week into the government reopening he said, “We opened it but nobody said a word. I think they’re going to wait to the last week until they talk about it. We’re still at a standstill and we don’t know what’s going to happen to us on the 15th.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Caleb Harmon poses for a portrait in front of his car at a RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where he is getting free gas because of he is an employee of the Transportation Security Administration. Harmon has worked for TSA for 3 years and recently moved to Atlanta from Miami where his family is. “I am by myself, and I have to deal with it on my own. I have a 4 year old,” he says, “It’s hard to find another job. That’s why a lot of us are sticking with it because we don’t want to lose what we have.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Bradford Best poses for a portrait in front of his car at a RaceTrac in College Park, Ga. where he is getting free gas because of he is an employee of the Transportation Security Administration. “It’s a challenging situation,” he says. “but while the government was shut down, God is not shut down.” (Photo by Evey Wilson)
Various employees at the airport park at this lot behind the RaceTrac on Camp Creek Parkway in College Park, Ga. This RaceTrac offered free gas to TSA employees between 12:00 – 2:00pm on Friday, January 25, 2019. Later that day, President Donald Trump signed a bill to reopen the government through February 15, but many federal employees feel uncertain about the possibility of another shut down on February 15. (Photo by Evey Wilson)
