GM Paint Shop marks 15 years of toy donations

By KALEA HALL

khall@vindy.com

LORDSTOWN

For the 15th consecutive year, the workers at General Motors Lordstown’s paint shop loaded up a Salvation Army truck with toys.

“It feels good to give back to the community,” said Tina Lumley, paint shop employee. “The community supports us, so it’s our chance to support it.”

The lunchroom at the paint shop was filled with toys for children of all ages who are in need. Bikes, stuffed animals, games, soccer balls and tablets were some of the gifts workers purchased.

They also donated $4,100 to the Salvation Army on Thursday.

The donation is one of the largest, if not the largest, for the Mahoning County Salvation Army, said Maj. Paul Moore, Mahoning County area coordinator for the Salvation Army.

The local SA has a list of 1,700 children from the county in need of gifts this holiday.

The paint shop initially was given gift orders for 100 children, but provided even more than that and the cash donation.

“It provides toys for the kids, but we also want people to feel like they can give back to their own communities,” Moore said.

Glenn Johnson, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, which represents the paint shop workers, said it never amazes him of the generosity of his members, even when the times are difficult.

The plant has been affected by slowing sales of its product, the Chevrolet Cruze, as compact SUVs and other vehicles have become more popular.

“We have 13 weeks of downtime this year, but yet when it comes time to step up and help someone less fortunate, they always come through with flying colors,” Johnson said.

Rick Demuynck, plant manager, congratulated the team on “another outstanding job” with the toy drive.

“It’s not unexpected because we do it all the time,” he said. “It’s still remarkable and says a lot about the team here.”

The Salvation Army will accept new toys through Christmas Eve. The toys can be dropped off or mailed to 1501 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown, OH 44511.