UAW/GM Food Drive is about helping, not mourning
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Volunteer Kay Deeney puts cans of soup into grocery bags for distribution to the needy at the UAW food distribution drive on Saturday.
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Volunteers blur through the line as they work together to pack 2,100 bags of groceries for the needy during the UAW food distribution drive on Saturday.
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Tom Westrick fills in a few gaps in a sea of grocery bags ready for distribution to the needy at the UAW food distribution drive on Saturday.
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Gino Sherrod, an electrician for 23 years with GM, selects a box of scalloped potatoes, while bagging groceries for the needy at possibly the last UAW food distribution drive on Saturday. Ironically, the day Janesville GM halts production is also Gino's birthday.
JANESVILLE — In many ways, it was a typical UAW/GM Food Drive, if bagging groceries for 350 families in about half an hour can ever be called typical.
Old friends greeted each other in the wee hours of the morning with smiles and hugs.
Teenagers rubbed sleep from their eyes and tried to look unimpressed while children, sugared up on doughnuts and cake, bounced around the loading dock at the Janesville General Motors plant Saturday.
But the hugs lasted a bit longer than normal, and there was sadness behind the smiles as volunteers acknowledged this is probably the last year the annual event will take place at the Janesville plant.
Still, workers are saving their sorrow at the end of SUV production in Janesville for Monday and Tuesday. Saturday, as volunteers pointed out again and again, was for helping the less fortunate.
“This is a really good event, especially with all the news going on,” said Randy Brasich, a 13-year veteran of the plant. “I just think it’s tremendous, this outpouring of help and goodwill.”
Brasich transferred to the Fort Wayne, Ind., plant in November, but he drove more than five hours to be in Janesville for the food drive. Other volunteers showed up despite not knowing where or if they will work after SUV production ends Tuesday.
“A lot of us are facing uncertainty in the future,” UAW Shop Chairman John Dohner Jr. told the volunteers. “A lot of people in the community already don’t have jobs. So it says a lot that … everybody could find it in their hearts to give back.”
Give back they did. The event raised nearly $20,000 this year, more than last year, organizer Marv Wopat said. The donations, along with more than $6,000 in donated and discounted goods from vendors, allowed the drive to collect six bags of groceries each for 350 Rock County families.
GM employees, the United Auto Workers and community members stepped up this year despite—or perhaps because of—tough times, said Kristy Kerl, wife of UAW Vice President Steve Kerl.
“Everybody’s trying to work together and save this community,” she said.
After about 28 years, the drive has become an efficient operation. Adults and children, line workers and management marched down the assembly line, loading the designated number of each item into Woodman’s grocery bags to the tune of Beach Boys Christmas carols.
Tables came down in a flash as the last of the food was bagged, and flatbed carts lined up to deliver the bags to trucks, SUVs and vans waiting outside. Those vehicles delivered the goods to needy families.
“It’s just chaos, but it does straighten out,” said organizer Nancy Nienhuis, a retired GM nurse known to everyone as “Nurse Nancy.”
Delivering the groceries makes Judy McRoberts, who has participated in the drive since the beginning, remember how much she has, she said.
“They’re really always very grateful,” she said.
The community needs the help now more than ever, organizers said. They’re already figuring out how to hold the event next year without the plant. Wopat vowed to hold the food drive in a parking lot if he had to.
“I know my family will be involved,” he said. “I know we’ll have the retirees …You get out there and tell people you need help, and they fall out of the woodwork… It’s too nice of a thing to lose in the community. We’re losing enough.”
Dec 23, 2008 at 8:43 a.m.
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Gabby's post that they were commenting on was posted at 11:09 am, is our library not open at that time? I see that they have cleared up this confusion by pointing out they have internet at the home they are currently staying.
Back to the original posting....
Kudos to those GM workers, who donated time and money.
Kudos to any who helped, Woodmans too!
I am sure all those recieving the groceries are more than grateful.
Dec 22, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
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How interesting that Woodman's was still willing to donate to this great cause after all of the bashing the company received from Mike Sheridan and some GM employees at the labor rally for the UFCW. And to all those GM employees that didn't support Woodman's employees vote to be non-union..I hope your hands didn't get too dirty filling those grocery bags with that donated food.
Dec 21, 2008 at 9:22 p.m.
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Now this is a nice story. Well done GM employees, UAW and the Gazette!
Dec 21, 2008 at 4:49 p.m.
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I may not agree with all the UAW practices but this is agreat thing.
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.
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that was sarcasm gabby, sorry you misinterpreted it that way.
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:50 p.m.
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Could this food have gone to someone who needed it more than us? Yes it very well could have. But the way I understood it, the GM employees or the UAW workers sign people they know up to receive the food. My fiancees family delivered food all over Janesville and even some in Beloit.
*Oh and I do NOT steal anyone's Internet!
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:25 p.m.
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you did your homework, but failed to see there might be another possibility. That is what I stated. That is what gabby06 then presented. Besides, if you read my post again you will see I say we (as in all people), not pointing out just you, need to not jump to conclusions. Glad you got the food Gabby, hope the new job works out for you. And thanks for not lumping all GM people in the same boat, as some tend to do. Merry Xmas!
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:20 p.m.
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On top of the fact, when we were asked if we wanted the food, we told them to take it to a shelter. They didn't want to take it to a shelter because they want to help the families directly. That is the only reason we took the food, and we are still taking some of it to shelters or to nursing homes too because we cannot eat all of it before it goes bad. Either way, thank you GM and UAW for helping make our Christmas a little easier.
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:16 p.m.
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Not everyone who is 'less fortuante' than GM workers are poor and living out of boxes. I have nothing bad to say about GM, they are a great company, they were good to my aunt who worked there for over 30 years, they were good to my soon to be father in law who worked there for just about 30 years. I do have something bad to say about the lowlifes that worked there, but those are anywhere and I would say it about those specifc people no matter where they worked. I do have money, we just struggle alot. Getting these groceries has helped us make a better Christmas for our daughter and to pay a little extra on bills. I believe that is why GM does this. To help people. I shouldn't have to explain why I need the help!
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.
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gonefishing~ I never said I didn't have money for groceries. My fiance works and I will be starting soon. I live with my mother right now, that is how I have internet.
Dec 21, 2008 at 2:42 p.m.
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GoneBezerk, maybe he is stealing your unprotected wireless network signal then. I was only pointing out other options, not "jumping" on you. Take a chill pill.
Dec 21, 2008 at 2:21 p.m.
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gonefishin - Not to answer for him, but I at first had that thought too. But the realized that there is free access at the library, maybe a relatives house, and other places as well. We all need to try not to jump to conclusions sometimes.
Dec 21, 2008 at 2:17 p.m.
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If everyone had the same outlook as the mitten lady, this would be a better world. Charity is not done for fame. In fact, charity isn't even always involving money. A smile to the sick, a door opened for someone, ect. are some of the easiest gifts to give. This great giving happens to be such a large event that it is just natural for the press to be there. It might help in getting people more involved, which is a good thing. Merry Christmas to all involved, to those who gripe just keep chewing on that lump of coal.
Dec 21, 2008 at 2:07 p.m.
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tardtrader - I didn't see any cameras or newspaper reporters around when I and my fellow line workers donated for this. Another viscous lie by an ignorant basher.
Dec 21, 2008 at 2:01 p.m.
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I hope that city and school board employees can step up next year and come together with our local unions and do somthing like this. I know it won't be as big but it would be a great thing to do.
Dec 21, 2008 at 1:31 p.m.
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cardtrader we don't ask for the cameras and the newspaper to come they just do and if you don't like it oh'well. But even though you critize we still would offer you food if you needed it.
Dec 21, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
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Jandsmac: What a beautiful response to Cardtrader! You folks are angels in disguise. Hold your heads up high this week, all of you losing your jobs (whether at GM or elsewhere). The whole Stateline area has you in its thoughts and prayers.
Dec 21, 2008 at 12:53 p.m.
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Cardtrader, as a proud UAW/GM retiree, if you "were" starving, I would still help you.
Dec 21, 2008 at 12:21 p.m.
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If I was starving I woulnd never step foot in a UAW chow line. They claim they do things out of the kindness of there hearts, Bull they always have a camera and a newspaper reporter around. Nothing for Nothing
Dec 21, 2008 at 11:14 a.m.
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Kudos to the GM workers. They have been regular supporters of the less fortunate for years and years. What are the regulars to the Gazettee blogs going to do without them to bash? Oh yea, more time to bash the teachers! Or . . . maybe they could each make a resolution for 2009 to be more giving themselves . . . in all areas of their lives!
Dec 21, 2008 at 11:09 a.m.
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I was one of the families who received food, I AM NOT A GM BASHER!!!!!!! Yes there are things I don't like about SOME GM employees but I don't group everyone down there into that mold. My family and I are very gratefull of the food that was dropped off at our house. It helps out tremendously. It helps us get through the next couple weeks until I start my new job. Thank you very much GM!
Dec 21, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
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Well said R1234!!
Dec 21, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
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God Bless the GM workers and their families for all their contributions to this community. It is precisely this sense of "community" that Janesville and the GM bashers need to cultivate. As the employees prepare to leave "The Plant" for the last time to face the uncertainties of the future, the GM employees still remain charitable and help those who are less fortunate than they are right up to the last minute. GM BASHERS.....shame on you...you are the real Christmas Grinches. While you occupy yourselves populating these blogs with your vitriolic comments, the GM worker was again donating time and money supporting the less fortunate members of this community.
Dec 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m.
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May God bless all of you- those that donated, and, those that needed to receive. This is what community building is about. A little heart warming before the Holidays.
Dec 21, 2008 at 9:37 a.m.
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unreal that there is only 2 comments (so far) to this story. where are all you gm bashing cowards now? too busy enjoying your free food i bet. take care janesville and good luck to all my local 95 brothers and sisters.
Dec 21, 2008 at 9:16 a.m.
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It's always a good feeling when we do this each year. This year was extra special because it was the last time I get to see there smiley faces one more time. It's very sad to say goodbye it will be espically hard on tuesday. Just want to say Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!
Dec 21, 2008 at 8:33 a.m.
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Greedy autoworkers? Think again. They are some of the most caring and generous people you'll ever meet. They never fail to step up to the plate when it comes to helping those in need in our community. Blood drives for the Red Cross were held regularly at the plant for one good reason- they know they will get hundreds of pints as they always have in the past. Still think they're all greedy? Shame on you and your narrow mindedness.
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