General Motors is calling its retirees back to work.

"They have asked us to contact the legislators, congressmen, and i have done that," says GM Retiree Jim Richards. "Hopefully, along with other retirees, that will help."

Help jump-start the struggling auto industry. GM executives have e-mailed retirees, urging them to contact elected officials immediately, to ask them to support a $25 billion loan to automakers, and to explain why they can't let the Big Three fail.

"Congress has to understand the severe impact it would have on all of us," Richards says. "The auto industry provides a lot of jobs in a lot of other fields."

Jim Richards worked for GM for 38 years, and now he's back at it--e-mailing senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and Congressman Tim Walberg, asking them to help. GM has made it easy for retirees, listing talking points online, and posting form letters.

"I know that it's on everybody's mind," says Richards.

So far, the organized effort is working. Congressman Mike Rogers has received more than 500 calls to rev up the Big Three, since last Friday.

Like many of the company's concerned retirees, Richards is happy to help.

"I feel very fortunate to have had General Motors in my past," he says.

And Richards hopes, with the help of lawmakers, to have GM in his future.

"If they can help the banking, financial fields with hardly any strings attached, It would be only fair that they help the auto industry, which has a significant effect on the economy," says Richards.