Food drive comes to end
Photo
Bags and bags of donated food were a regular sight during the annual General Motors employee assistance food drive in Janesville. The event, a local tradition for 25 years, is the latest casualty stemming from the December 2008 closure of the Janesville GM plant.
JANESVILLE — The UAW/GM Employee Assistance Program holiday food drive—a local tradition that for 25 years gave holiday groceries to hundreds of needy families—won't happen this year.
"It just leaves a big hole in my heart and in the community," said Marv Wopat, who with Nancy Nienhuis has led the effort since the beginning.
After two months of discussions, Wopat and Nienhuis made the heart-wrenching decision they couldn't pull off the food drive this holiday season, Wopat said.
"There's no way to get the money," Wopat said.
The end of the food drive is the latest impact from the December 2008 closure of the Janesville General Motors plant.
"Our employees were the main source of all our money. We'd go up and down the line and collect the money," Wopat said.
Loss of the food drive will be felt throughout the community.
Last year, donations of $20,000 and nearly 400 volunteers—including 150 kids—provided 375 families enough groceries for two weeks, Wopat said.
Local food pantries know this will affect them, too.
"Anytime there's less food given out in the community, it affects us because people will come to us more," said Karen Lisser, executive director at ECHO.
"People that might have skipped getting food from us in December probably will come to us," she said.
Capt. Kirk Schuetz, commanding officer at the Janesville Salvation Army, agreed: "I expect we'll be seeing more of those families coming to us for assistance."
In the beginning, the program had six volunteers and served only a handful of families, Wopat said.
In later years, hundreds of volunteers would spend a Saturday morning bagging and boxing truckloads of groceries. The effort distributed $335,000 in donations to 75,000 families, Wopat said.
Names of families in need came from GM employees, area churches and nurses at Mercy Hospital and Rock County, Wopat said.
"Our goal was to hit families that were struggling at Christmas and to make their Christmas a little better," he said.
"It was good to give them enough groceries for two weeks so they didn't have to buy groceries and might have a little extra money to take the kids to the movies or do something. We had a lot of families falling through the crack," Wopat said.
Not only did the program donate money to buy the groceries and pack them, they also delivered them.
"Probably one of the neatest things was to watch the kids and their parents laughing and management and union working together as a team. Everybody was just happy," Wopat said.
"I'd sit back and just get tears in my eyes thinking how beautiful it was. I was blessed to be able to part of it," he said, his voice cracking.
"It was the volunteers and employees who made it happen. All Nurse Nancy and I did was coordinate.
"It was the most organized chaos you'd ever see in your life."
Nov 22, 2009 at 9:41 p.m.
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I worked at G.M. awhile and this was a great thing the people did. It was fun packing SO MUCH FOOD!Thankyou Marv and Nancy for this great idea and act of great kindness. P.S. do any of you old G.M.ers remember the mitten tree? That was a cool idea too!
Nov 22, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.
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why dont all the ones who want to help, adopt a family or 2 and help them. Those who can afford to do something if only a little it all helps. As far as the past bashings and union haters let it go, some of them may feel the loss to themselves or loved ones that were once helped. God be with all the less fortunate and lets see how we can, as a community can help, I know alot of people are hurting as to economy but remember some have less then we do. You cant turn back time nor take back words that were said but you can do something now to help. one word can make a difference "ACTION"
Nov 22, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.
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Thanks for all the hard work over many, many years. Unfortunately, things change and we all must adapt--luckily not by car-pooling to Kansas City!
There are many other food and charitable programs available locally to which anyone or any business may contribute. United Way, Salvation Army, Echo, Sentry foods "buy-a-bag for Echo," and many churches (to name a few) are immediately available to accept and distribute your contributions of money, food, and time.
Instead of of trying to resurrect this past program at the last minute, those who wish to can direct their resources to the program(s) of their choice and still help likely the very same people and families in this community that the GM food drive assisted for years and years(which is another interesting story altogether!).
Nov 22, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.
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getalife, you seem angry and judgmental.
Nov 22, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
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I understand that this blog was at one time used for the purpose of bashing GM'ers. People that have too much time, jealouisy and not enough integrity would have at it. Maybe it is time to put their actions to where their mouth has left their reputation and DO SOMETHING about this tragic situation, and prove their worthiness? We can volunteer to help still. But You bashers? Take the actions WE did. Organize, communicate, impliment, follow through, deliver. {Use your Armchair critic methoids and Lead!}
A small twist upon the old adage': Put Your Actions where Your Mouth is!
Nov 22, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
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isnt nice all you union bashers say unions dont do anything but get fat do nothing and collect a paycheck.some people bashing unions dont do anything for the poor or needy. i work for a union and the FIRST order of business at our meeting is to disperse money for those whove asked for help in and around the community and you know what not ONCE has somebody or some cause ever been turned down.
Nov 22, 2009 at 8:53 a.m.
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I'm going out today and getting 'food cards' for a couple of very nice families that live down the street from me. What will you do?
Thanks Marv and Nancy for inspiring me.
Nov 22, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.
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Thank you Nancy and Marv for all the work you've done to help the community. The food drive was always a fun and rewarding experience.
Nov 22, 2009 at 8:06 a.m.
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The community knew this day was coming. We should have planned for it. We goofed up and the most poor among us will suffer the most. Does anyone have any solid thoughts on how to soften the blow, lessen the damage?
Nov 22, 2009 at 7:16 a.m.
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The food drive tradition may be ending, but the community will always be grateful to all the volunteers that made it happen.
Nov 22, 2009 at 5:40 a.m.
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thats really sad to hear this for those who will really need it.
Nov 21, 2009 at 9:29 p.m.
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Forward Janesville...Your group is made up of many of the business leaders in the janesville area. Your members have access to countless employees in the area. Ever think about doing something for the little people? Think about it.
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