TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa International Airport is highly ranked, with a solid reputation among travelers. Some of that is thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who help the airport run.
According to the airport’s Manager of Communications, Beau Zimmer, the airport has 454 volunteers as of mid-April. Those volunteers spend their time as a welcome ambassador, at the airport’s USO Center assisting military members, or in Travelers Aid.
Travelers Aid, which is currently run by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, has a long history both at Tampa International and a network of airports across the country. Travelers Aid is one of the nation’s oldest social welfare movements that dates back to the mid 1800s and was formed to provide protection for women who traveled alone, usually in train stations.
Today it’s morphed into a network of volunteers who are ready to help in any situation, from easy fixes to crisis.
Ellen McCormick decided to begin volunteering with Travelers Aid roughly eight years ago after she retired from her job as a scientist with a pharmaceutical company. She says she missed the routine working provided and wanted to do something impactful with her time, beyond what typical hobbies could offer.
“I think it’s the diversity of what we do here that really draws me in,” she says.
On a typical day, Ellen does everything from answering traveler’s questions, provide emergency supplies like diapers or band-aids, or help problem solve and get solutions for stranded travelers. Other days, the situations are far more serious.
Ellen says she’s worked with travelers who were scammed while buying a plane ticket or arrive at the airport with no resources.
“Sometimes there’s no money, there’s no phone, there’s no friends, so they’re really in a pickle,” she explained.
Through the partnership with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, the Travelers Aid volunteers then call a shelter, find them a place to go, and give the person a bus pass and toiletries.
“It’s really sad. But sometimes it happens and at least there’s someone here to help,” Ellen said.
Travelers Aid is staffed by volunteers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7 days a week. Roughly 50 volunteers rotate to keep the location fully staffed.
Ellen says the loves the community the airport has become for her and recommends that other new retirees consider volunteering for a cause they are passionate about.
“I think if anything I’ve learned is at the core of us, we all want the same thing. We’re all very much the same and every once in a while, we need a helping hand,” she said.