"We're committed to proving to employers that formerly homeless people can be a skilled talent pool," said Veronika Scott, founder and CEO of The Empowerment Plan. "The end product is more than a coat: It empowers women to take control of their lives and provides the path to long-term, sustainable jobs."

Scott says GM's insulation provides the warmth needed for the homeless to withstand cold nights. Each coat contains 31 water bottles. The GM Foundation also supports The Empowerment Plan, providing it with $220,000 since 2013.

An estimated 1.2 million bottles from five GM facilities throughout metro Detroit and Flint supplemented the significant volumes coming from the Flint community. The company recently added its Romulus Powertrain plant to the program. While many employees bring reusable water bottles to work, all of GM's facilities provide water bottle recycling. Employees at these Michigan sites know exactly what the bottles will become when they throw the bottles in the recycling bins.

"People want to do the right thing," said John Bradburn, GM global waste reduction manager. "The Do Your Part recycling initiative is a way our employees and communities can connect their individual actions to broader social and environmental causes."

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