Right after Labor Day weekend, less than two weeks after International Paper Co. announced it would close Savannah and Riceboro containerboard facilities, Sheron Morgan was on the ground at the Savannah mill.
As she spoke in front of a group of employees, going through resources like training programs and resume help, Morgan, the executive director of WorkSource Coastal in Savannah, said the mood in the room was heavy.
This wasn’t a surprise. After all, Morgan said, their lives had just been upended, and now someone with a job was standing in front of them, telling them they would make it through.
“I have a job, and I’m standing in front of you telling you it’s going to be alright and they’re looking at me like, ‘lady, you have a check,’” she said…