By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Two local food banks recently got a boost from a local manufacturer.
Lubrizol Advanced Materials, of Bowling Green, donated $10,000 each to Brown Bag Food Project and the First United Methodist Church food pantry.
It’s part of the international Lubrizol Foundation’s pledge to contribute $2 million to address the economic stresses caused by coronavirus pandemic, said Justin McIntyre, the plant manager.
“Because of the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the number of people who are not able to work right now, many areas are experiencing record unemployment.,” he wrote in a recent email. “This is causing food insecurity in many areas around the country. The Lubrizol Foundation felt that donating to food banks is how we can have the most positive impact on the communities in which we operate.”
The foundation was created, he said, in 1952, a sign of the company’s belief that “the communities where we work and live have long been valued stakeholders in the sustainability of our organization.”
The foundation provides support to local charities and nonprofits in the communities where Lubrizol facilities are located. “Supporting our communities is part of our DNA and our regular course of business.”
Lubrizol, which includes Lubrizol Advanced Materials and Lubrizol Additives, has facilities around the world. Those plants also support their communities directly, he said. That holds true for the BG Lubrizol has been especially active in supporting education.
The plant has been operating through the pandemic. It produces surfactants which go into all types of personal care products including liquid hand soap, shower gel/body wash, shampoo, baby care, and facial cleansers. Those products are in high demand, McIntyre said. March sales were up, while April’s were down compared to last year.
The company has kept all its employees on. Those who could work from home were required to. That’s about a quarter of the plant’s workforce. The plant is now hiring a few temporary workers. Those will replace temporary workers who have recently filled permanent positions, McIntyre said.
“The site is completing only essential activities critical to serving our customers,” he wrote. “We’re taking measures to ensure social distancing, proper hygiene, and enhanced disinfection.”
Starting Monday, in compliance with the newest guidance from the state, “all employees will be required to wear some type of face covering at all times, except when they are working alone in an enclosed space,” he wrote. “We also are screening everyone who comes onsite, both when they arrive and when they leave.”
