Humtown, Valley Industrial Trucks Team Up for Breast Cancer Awareness

COLUMBIANA, Ohio – Aside from daily practical use, a vehicle at Humtown Products also sends an uplifting message of hope and awareness. 

That’s because this particular lift truck is painted pink in order to call attention to the survivors and those lost to breast cancer.

“People have life events,” says Mark Lamoncha, president of Humtown. “And we’re affected by that. We need to stop long enough to be concerned and care. It’s about raising awareness.”

The pink ribbon is the international symbol for breast cancer awareness, and the color is often applied to scores of products during October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

Valley Industrial Trucks, Boardman, supplied the new lift truck to Humtown and painted it pink, says Jim Hammond, president of Valley Industrial.

“Several of our manufacturers have done a ‘pink’ program, and we adopted it more than 10 years ago,” he says. Valley Industrial has promoted pink rental trucks and makes a donation every year to the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

“It’s a unique way to get the message out about breast cancer awareness,” Hammond says. “We had a team member pass away from breast cancer, so it’s near and dear to our hearts to share that message.”

Each side of the truck is affixed with family members of Humtown employees who have survived and in memory of those who have died from breast cancer, says forklift driver Jeff Hughes.

Hammond says the company has delivered between 20 or 30 pink lift trucks in the Youngstown-Akron area over the years.  

Humtown had two older models painted pink, and when it was time to purchase a new truck, the company requested that it too be painted that color. 

The company manufactures sand molds used in the metals castings process at its plant on Columbiana-Waterford Road. Humtown also has an operation in Leetonia that uses additive manufacturing technology to produce its sand molds. 

BYD, an acronym for Build Your Dreams, manufactured the new lift truck – an electric vehicle powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery that can last between 15 and 16 hours.  

“People want to live their dream,” Lamoncha said. “Sometimes in that dream there are some harsh realities, but we can make life better for our team members.”

Pictured: On hand for the delivery of the hand truck were Valley Industrial Trucks President Jim Hammond, territory manager Larry Harwell III, Jeff Hughes, forklift driver at Humtown Products, BYD Motors regional sales manager Tim Witts and Humtown’s president, Mark Lamoncha.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.