TOLEDO, Ohio — A national trucking company filed for bankruptcy in August, leaving its employees to pick up the pieces.
Now seven months after thousands were devastated by their sudden unemployment, a local Teamsters Union employee said it's time for his comrades, the former employees of Roadway Express, from all over the county to come together again.
Michael Huggins said their lives were uprooted. He said many people were forced to move to different states to find work. He now believes there is value in remembering the good times.
"A lot of Roadway Express 251 employees have lost their jobs, teamsters have lost their jobs and had to essentially start over and I think this picnic will uplift and share good camaraderie of all the good stories that we have had out at Toledo 251," Huggins said.
Huggins has been a community organizer who has gathered Toledoans together for several occasions, including two presidential inaugurations in Washington. But Huggins is also a former Roadway Express Toledo 251 employee. He said he committed 15 years of his life to the company.
Yellow Corporation acquired Roadway in 2005 and by Aug. 6, 2023, the company closed its doors for good.
Huggins said since then he and many of the former employees have kept in touch and a community picnic would only strengthen their bond and help honor their memories.
He expects over 1,500 employees to fill Ottawa Park on June 22 and he hopes all of Toledo will join them.
'I'm not a stranger to bringing people together and I figured it would be fitting," Huggins said. "Roadway Express 251, we haven't had, or any roadway terminal in the country has had a picnic yet and somebody would have to be first, and why not coming out of the city of Toledo?"
Huggins said Seaway has already sponsored the event and he is hoping more volunteers and donations will help pull the picnic together. He is interested in food donations as well as bounce houses and other community sponsors. If you are interested in donating, you are encouraged to call 419-769-7715.
WTOL 11 reached out to Yellow Corporation and did not hear back by the time of this report.