Cape Coral laundry shop owner shows gratitude for local TSA workers

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

At Cape Cleaners off Cape Coral Parkway, through bouts of steaming, sorting, and folding, owner Dan Puleio reflects on his success.

"We win best of The (Cape Coral) Breeze every year, best of the News Press," Puleio said.

While Puleio feels prosperous now, he's no stranger to living paycheck to paycheck and going without pay at all.

"Oh gosh, pick a decade," Puleio said. "The day I had to go through bankruptcy, yeah, I got a little PTSD from that."

It's a past Puleoio doesn't want to revisit, but one that fuels his compassion for those who face it today.

He's doing his part in helping Transportation Security Administration workers in our Gulf Coast community.

"Sure, my understanding is when paychecks are restored, they'll get all their back pay. What do you do in the meantime? How do you pay the rent? How do you buy groceries?" Puleio said.

Cape Cleaners is giving TSA workers up to $30 a week in dry cleaning or laundry services.

"Every little bit helps," Puleio said. "I want to show some appreciation. I mean, they're working for free. Yeah, they'll get paid in the end, but they're all working for free."

Until the shutdown ends and until our local TSA workers are paid, Puleio will keep offering the promotion, as he believes in giving back as much as he's received.

"Our community supports us, so any time I get a chance to give back to the community that puts food on our table, we try and do that," Puleio said.

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