Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1516132
Many members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) spread holiday cheer even before the 2023 season's "official" start at Thanksgiving. During Southeast/Farley Chapter's Nov. 14 board meeting at the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries in Dothan, members decorated two Christmas trees, wrapped gis and filled holiday bags for parents to give to their foster children. They loaded bags with packages of hot chocolate and popcorn, cra activity kits for foster families to work on together, and gi cards for meals and movies. "It was our way of giving back," Southeast Division Community Relations Specialist Keisha Russaw said. "Our help gave them time to get ahead and do more in the community instead of having to focus on decorating and wrapping gis." The project was the start of a new partnership with the local Alabama Baptist Children's Home, which provides foster care and professional counseling for children. "It was such a joy for Alabama Power Service Organization members to come in and decorate and wrap gis for us," said Kim McGainey, Southeast Area director - Alabama Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries. "It was a great opportunity for us to get to know one another." APSO and Energizers chapters helped people statewide during the holiday season. Members shopped for toys, bicycles and other gis on children's wish lists, collected canned goods and nonperishables for food pantries, provided hygienic items for senior citizens and made donations to nonprofits. They brought fun to the season by taking part in Christmas parades, helping to build floats and decorating community Christmas trees. The company's volunteers lent a helping hand to children served by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, the Salvation Army, Wilmer Hall Children's Home, Toys for Tots, and to the Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging, Tuscaloosa One Place and numerous food pantries. "The work that the Energizers and APSO do is so critical, especially around the holidays," said Kim Savage, coordinator of APSO and Energizers, Alabama Power's employee and retiree service groups. "So many families struggle this time of year, but the service projects APSO and Energizers do around the holidays hopefully make things a lile easier for those families who can't seem to catch a break. APSO and Energizers are proud to help those in need and continue to elevate our communities." By Carla Davis Alabama Power employees, retirees brighten lives with a holiday helping hand 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1: Corporate Energizers holiday meeting, 2&3: Mobile APSO shopped for Angel Tree and WKRG's Magical Christmas Toy Drive, 4&5: Barry APSO shopped for DHR and Angel Tree children, 6: Birmingham Energizers supported Red Mountain Grace, 7: Gaston APSO decorated a Christmas parade float, 8: Mobile APSO assisted a child advocacy center, 9: Miller APSO shopped for Angel Tree, 10: Western APSO set up a photo booth in support of Northport's Open House, 11: Southeast/Farley APSO helped the Alabama Baptist Children's Home, Dothan, 12: Barry APSO assisted a food bank, 13: Magic City APSO assisted Rebirth, a Birmingham nonprofit that helps at-risk youth. 5 4