UAW food drive leaves participants grateful

About 450 families were helped through the annual giveaway this year.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NORTH JACKSON -- Rex Bosley, Shannon Houser, Sheryll Giddens and Frank McMahon felt good giving.
William Griffin, Rebecca Crago and Geraldine Moore appreciated the help.
Bosley, chairman of the community service committee of United Auto Workers Local 1112, said 450 needy families -- 1,400 individuals -- received food Wednesday as part of the annual Care and Share Program conducted at the General Motors Lordstown complex.
Contributions: The $22,000 needed to buy the wholesale canned goods, beans and turkeys was collected through the sale of raffle tickets and donations from the union membership, General Motors Corp. and Lear Seating Corp., which makes seats for cars manufactured at the Lordstown complex.
"It's a great service to the community," Bosley said, calling the massive donation an example of what a union and company can do together.
This was the 12th year for the program, which has seen $250,000 worth of food going to 12,500 individuals.
"It's gratifying. It's a great feeling to know you're helping people," Bosley said.
"It's a good feeling to have a good job and help others," said Houser, of New Waterford, an assembly-line worker who joined others to distribute food. "You see all these people and realize how lucky you are."
Giddens, a paint department worker, agreed. "I enjoy doing this. It's a worthy cause. It's a pleasure seeing all the people."
McMahon of Champion, a body shop worker, took his granddaughter, Kaylee Slyk, a Champion Middle School pupil, out of school to help.
"It makes me feel wonderful," McMahon said with a smile.
Thank-yous: He called attention to the cards and letters the union receives from those who have been helped.
One GM family, McMahon said, got a letter from a Youngstown family that received a smoke detector last year.
Local 1112 later heard from another family whose house burned down, saying they would have been killed if not for the warning from the smoke alarm they got through the giveaway.
Beneficiaries: Those receiving food also are thankful.
"I'm going to use it right away," commented Griffin, 74, of Warren, who lives on a pension and Social Security benefits. "It will help me out."
Crago, of Youngstown, was picking up food for her father, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
"He works when he can. He tires easily," Crago said, adding that her stepmother can't work because of a back injury.
"This is a great deal," she added.
For Moore of Youngstown, the groceries will help her daughter, Beverly Smith, who lives next door.
Smith, the mother of two, injured her leg about three weeks ago and hasn't been able to work.