Families are facing financial uncertainty after the announcement of GM Lordstown cutting its third shift and in some cases the plant's partial downturn is hurting workers at supplier businesses.

Each year during the holiday season local UAW workers give back to families and young children in need.

But this Christmas, some of their fellow workers are waiting to learn if they'll need assistance of their own.

UAW Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson says they're waiting for the dust to settle heading into 2017 when it comes to determining the impact the shift suspension will have.

"We're going to put a process in place. Our members are going to be the first ones to step up and help our own," Johnson said. 

Johnson says they'll look at job training, job classifications and if other opportunities exist for workers in need of a job. 

"We'll make sure that we do everything possible as a local union to support them," Johnson said.

With fewer Chevy Cruze compact cars to come off the production lines in 2017, the men and women who face layoffs next year are waiting to learn what options they'll have.

Knowing some may face financial hardships, Lordstown's superintendent plans to ask the school board to waive all classroom and pay to play fees next year. Pay to play currently costs each student $50 per season.

"Everybody's affected by these job losses at General Motors, as well as the spin off industries, whether they're from Lordstown, Warren, Howland or Austintown," Armstrong said.

Armstrong says the district is seeing a need for assistance. With the Lordstown Energy Center moving into the village, Armstrong says the district can afford to waive the fees. 

"It doesn't bring in the number of dollars that it might bring in at a bigger district, so it's definitely more beneficial to our families than it would be to have that small amount of money," he said.

Girl Scouts plan to begin collecting non-perishable food donations for the school pantry within the next month. The food pantry will be located in the new innovation center at the high school, next to the clothing bank. Students from all schools within the district can have access to the pantry.

GM announced in November its plans to suspend the third shift at its Lordstown complex. Nearly 1,000 hourly and 43 salaried workers of the 4,500 employees at the plant will be affected.