Senior Resource Alliance (SRA) and Calvario Church partnered to host a job fair held on Friday, Aug. 12. Representatives from major corporations were present during the event. 

Employment Opportunities 

In a report with WFTV, companies from Orange County, including Goodwill and Amazon, offered employment opportunities. 

According to the website, SRA is a local resource for senior citizens. 

The nonprofit gives senior citizens, and their caregivers access to services and programs of the government. 

The SRA considers itself a "clearinghouse for information and services offered by local, state and national organizations." They have served Central Florida since 1985. 

Struggling Families 

According to a report with Orlando Weekly, Orlando is considered a tourist destination with its 'Happiest Place on Earth' amusement park. Despite this, many working families are still struggling to make ends meet.  

In a recent report with the news outlet, Dalines Cortes is one of those working-class families who are finding it hard to get by despite working hard. 

As reported, she is an airport worker who cleans 20 to 25 airplane cabins in Orlando. She works with a team of seven or eight other cabin cleaners. 

Cortes works for Delta Airlines at Orlando International Airport. 

The 46-year-old currently lives with her son in their mobile home. She earns $15 an hour but said it is not enough to make ends meet. 

Rise in Inflation  

When she first started, she also had part-time jobs working at a Dollar Tree and a gym. While those two jobs paid less, they helped pay the bills. 

She owns the mobile home but has to pay rent for the plot of land at the mobile home park. According to her, it increased from $540 to $740. 

The price of groceries, gas, and electricity has also increased. Her son is currently in school and has also worked to help pay bills. 

The airport's union surveyed its employees and found that many were finding it hard to get by. 

The union pointed out that Florida's working families were struggling despite the state being a popular tourist destination. 

In the report, the union said that with historic inflation levels and housing prices, working people found it difficult to achieve the American Dream.

Cortes, like many of the contracted airport workers, perform essential work. She helps keep the area clean and safe for all passengers and crew. 

When she first moved from Puerto Rico to Orlando, she worked at Burger King. 

These days, she works to make sure that the younger workers in the airport get the training they need to work. She explained that most of these young employees lacked experience, patience, and compassion. 

She was also one of those who advocated for the older workers. Cortes makes sure that they take their breaks to eat, rest, and take their medication. 

The 46-year-old pointed out that these workers have sacrificed their youth to provide a living for their families. 

Cortes explained that many seniors have worked well into their advanced age. She found it sad that most have chosen not to retire because they could not afford it. 

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