GOAA Packs Plane to Support Central Florida Families in Need

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) took community support to new heights during its inaugural “Pack the Plane” event, in collaboration with several partners, at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL). During the event, a Diamond DASO aircraft was loaded with food donations, providing approximately 2,312 meals to families in need through Second Harvest Food Bank.
The success of “Pack the Plane” was made possible through collaboration with community organizations and dedicated partners, including Sheltair, Atlantic Aviation, My Flight, Northern Jet, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Advent Health, Women in Aviation, the Air Line Pilots Association, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The initiative began with donation boxes placed at key locations throughout Orlando International Airport (MCO), ORL, Sheltair, and Atlantic Aviation, making it easy for travelers, employees, and community members to contribute. On Saturday, May 3, more than 400 people brought in additional donations. In total, the event collected 2,774 pounds of food, surpassing the capacity of two Diamond DASO aircraft, each with a load capacity of 1,232 pounds.
“We are grateful to everyone who came out to make Pack the Plane a success by supporting families in the communities where we live and work,” said Lance Lyttle, Chief Executive Officer of GOAA, which manages MCO and ORL. “Our partnerships help to foster hope that working together, we can make a difference when it comes to hunger and gives Second Harvest Food Bank fuel for its mission to create hope and nourish lives through a hunger relief network.” The event also featured community-focused activities, such as aircraft displays, live music, food trucks, and appearances by the MCO Paw Pilots and Sparky, the mascot for the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team.