Corvette Assembly Plant Workers Hit the (Food) Assembly Line for Feeding America

Some of the workers at the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant returned to the assembly line Wednesday.

Just not the assembly line thousands of car enthusiasts are anxious to see back in operation.

Idled for more than a month by the nation’s battle against the coronavirus, more than 20 Corvette plant workers joined forces with other volunteers to assemble food boxes during another Feeding America distribution event at Bowling Green’s Lampkin Park.

One such worker, Kelsey Bragg, said she didn’t realize how many people in the community need assistance.

“Not only when a worldwide pandemic is happening, but anytime,” Bragg told The Bowling Green Daily News. “We want to do anything we can to help.”

These Corvette plant workers certainly did their part putting fruit, vegetables, meat, bread, and other items into boxes that hopefully will each provide a week’s worth of food for a family.

Officials at Feeding America’s Elizabethtown regional office said more than 1,000 families were expected to wind their way through the park on Morgantown Road and pick up the boxes of food on Wednesday.

“This was the perfect opportunity for us to help the community and give back,” said Jack Bowers, UAW Local 2164 president. “They (Feeding America volunteers) came in and said, ‘Can you guys set up an assembly line?’ I said, ‘Yeah, OK.’ We’ve done it for so long, we’re used to it.”

Quality engineer Breann Voss said it was good to see a lot of the community come out and help less fortunate families. “It has gone really smoothly, with everybody doing their assignments,” she said. “It’s enjoyable, knowing you’re helping people who have been impacted and are worse off than you are.”

Feeding America had actually provided food to UAW members during their strike last year as they had to survive on strike pay below $300 a week.

“We aren’t working now,” said Jason Watson, UAW Local 2164’s shop chairman, “but we’re fortunate to have benefits coming in.

We’re trying to give back, especially to Feeding America. They came in when we were on strike and helped us. We’re trying to help them in return and help the community.”

Wednesday’s event was the fourth such distribution of food in Warren County in April, and the boxes will be handed out three more times in May.

One recipient of the donated items told the Daily News that she “definitely” appreciates the food since she doesn’t have family in Bowling Green and has four kids to feed at home. “So this helps tremendously,” Ashley Davis said.

Bragg and her co-workers say they will do anything to help out as they wait for the go-ahead to return to work so they can start building more of the immensely popular 2020 Corvettes.

“I think everybody is ready to get back to work,” she said.

Source:
Bowling Green Daily News

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