Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1447266
15 "We've always had huge participation for this project," said Southern APSO President Melinda Emfinger. Magic City APSO President Shenita Baker said members sweetened the holidays for Jefferson County boarding-home residents by buying cakes, cookies and pies for the United Way (UW) Area Agency on Aging. Baker chaired the Red Cross Holiday for Heroes, in which APSO members partnered with the American Red Cross Alabama Region to collect holiday cards for distribution to Veterans Administration hospitals, homes and clinics. Through Operation Give Warmth for the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baker – along with her son, Sean, and another family member – made Christmas cards for veterans. Baker and other volunteers collected undergarments and shirts for veterans' use this winter. Baker chaired the annual Christmas stockings project for St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, with help from Angela Juett and Kristi Mathis, who sewed and decorated stockings for babies. For about 50 years, St. Vincent's has given homemade stockings to families of babies born in December and to babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. Patrick Snell chaired the annual Children's Hospital Playtime Extravaganza. APSO volunteers assembled 170 toy boxes and delivered them to Children's Hospital. Prissy Daly chaired the annual Children's Christmas Tree Display, where APSO sponsored and volunteers decorated trees at Children's of Alabama. Rachel Petry chaired a canned food drive to support the Grace Klein Community food bank, which assists food-insecure residents in the Birmingham area. Erica Lamar-Coney chaired Magic City APSO's efforts to help Angel Tree children sponsored by the Salvation Army. Thanks to a $21,000 donation from Power Delivery, volunteers supplied gifts to 550 children. Led by project chairs Bevin Tomlin and Wilbur Johnson, APSO volunteers brought holiday magic by supplying Santa's workshop with new toys, books and gifts for children in Birmingham homeless shelters and transitional housing. Children met Santa and made crafts and gifts for their parents, loved ones, friends and teachers. APSO also gave a donation to buy gift cards for teenagers. Mobile APSO members were on the go throughout the holidays, meeting the needs of many nonprofits that help the community. In time for Thanksgiving, Allison Allen, Brittany Dinc, Delane Hicks and Sharon Murrill delivered hams and turkeys to Mobile nonprofits, including Camille Place, Penelope House and Wilmer Hall. Lacey Poole brought Thanksgiving lunch to Ransom Ministries, which helps people overcome poverty. Mobile Power Delivery Distribution employees Kaleb Fain, Jason Newby and Josh Sutton shopped for children served by the United Fund of Brewton and East Brewton, which provides social and community services. Community Relations Manager Jeff Schmitz portrayed Santa, delivering fishing poles for children served by North Baldwin White Christmas, a nonprofit that helps low-income families. Mobile APSO volunteers bought toys and donated them to WKRG TV's Magical Christmas Toy Drive, which partners with the Salvation Army for distribution. The Southeast Business Office brought Christmas joy to disadvantaged children. Throughout November, employees collected toys for kids ages 5 and younger served by the Family Service Center of Eufaula's Holiday Sponsorship Program. More than 100 families received toys at Eufaula's Family Service Center. Southeast APSO members held a toy drive for the Family Service Center - Barbour, a United Way agency that helps residents during emergencies. Meier said the holiday season is the perfect time to help others – especially youngsters – and to share the warmth of APSO's caring members. "You never know who you're going to help," Meier said. "Children need something positive, even if it is a new outfit or a toy, just knowing we're going to help these kids have Christmas, and hopefully they'll know that people care about them. We want to be able to help them and their families." by Donna Cope At far left, Candace Mims rides a bike to checkout aisle; at left, National Carbon Capture Center Research Associate Heather Uselton and Gaston Steam Plant Power Generation Analyst Tabetha Lemonds fill their carts; at right, Gaston Steam Plant Administrative Assistant Sara Hansen fills out a checklist; at far right, Gaston Steam Plant Chemical Technician Andrea Jackson holds a Barbie house; below far right, members of the Gaston APSO Chapter; below, Mobile Division Engineer Holly Joiner and her daughter, Madelyn Campbell, place soccer balls on a stack of Christmas gifts. PHOTO BY BILLY BROWN PHOTO BY BILLY BROWN PHOTO BY BILLY BROWN