43
UAW gives back
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
Needle’s Eye Christian Life Center Director Emaline Smith had a smile filled with gratitude Wednesday.
With help from the United Auto Workers Local 1714, Needle’s Eye will be able to give toys to the 19 children in their Good News Club.
“We are so thankful,” Smith said as members of the UAW brought in bags filled with toys.
Sometimes, Smith said, the toys gifted to the center are the only toys the children will receive this holiday season.
“It makes them happy,” she said.
Members of the UAW Local 1714, which represents the fabrication plant workers at the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Complex, bought dolls, Hot Wheels, ponies, art sets and other toys for the center on Kenmore Avenue on the South Side.
The union has brought toys to area organizations since the 1980s, UAW Local 1714 President Robert Morales said. This year, the union raised $5,000 at its own fundraisers to buy the toys for four area organizations: Take Flight in Warren; Trumbull County Children Services; Mahoning County Children Services; and Needle’s Eye in Youngstown.
Members of the UAW Local 1714 also personally purchased presents through a Giving Tree – a tree that has tags with what presents to buy – for Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Inc. of Youngstown.
“As autoworkers, we are all about supporting and helping out others in need,” Morales said. “We understand the importance in supporting our communities. It’s just an opportunity to give back and say thank you.”
This is the last year Local 1714 will have its own holiday-giving events. After 47 years, the Local 1714 will merge into UAW Local 1112, which represents the assembly plant workers. The merger will be finalized in February.
From its start, UAW Local 1714 has worked to give back.
“We have always been involved in the community, and that’s something that has continued throughout the years,” Morales said.
On Friday, the local will give out 250 boxes of food to those in need – another tradition that’s been a part of the union’s history for decades. The Community Service Committee of Local 1714 organizes the holiday-giving events.
“As we progress to one union, the conversation is that these traditions will carry on and they will actually grow and we will just continue to give,” Morales said. “Giving back is never going to be put on the back burner by the UAW.”