POWERGRAMS

7 Although the temperature hit the 99-degree mark, Eastern Division Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) volunteers were recently on site early with paint and tools in hand to give a much-needed facelift to a playground for children with special needs. Eighteen volunteers worked for six hours at the new East Central Alabama United Cerebral Palsy (ECAUCP) facility at former Fort McClellan in Anniston. ECAUCP purchased the building, which once housed a child development center. The plan was to make the long-neglected playground more accessible for toddlers and preschool children with disabilities. It is one of three playgrounds on the property being renovated to meet the needs of all children who visit. "We wanted to make everything look new and fresh," said Jacki- Lyn Thacker, communications specialist, Eastern Division Office. "Most of the playground equipment was still usable. It just needed cleaning and, in many cases, a fresh coat of paint." Volunteers pressure-washed sidewalks and edged the grass alongside. They replaced the plastic barriers lining mulched fall- zone areas around the playground equipment with shorter ones more appropriate for smaller children. Their work included bleaching and spray-painting the tunnels, tree house, miniature cars and plastic toys on the playground. Volunteers cleaned the train caboose that serves as a sandbox, filled it with fresh sand and weeded the area around it. "It was so amazing seeing the results of what we could all do together as a team," said Breanna Walker, Talladega customer service representative. "I have children of my own, so it's important to me to be sure these kids have a safe environment where they can play." The volunteers did not forget the adults. They tore off the rolled- tar roof on a pavilion and installed sturdier metal with gutters. They washed the concrete floor and painted a table where people can sit and watch children at play. "I'm really pleased," said Linda Johns, executive director of ECAUCP. "It was the hottest day of the year so far. But APSO volunteers just worked their hearts out and got all that work done in such a short time. We are really appreciative of our relationship with Alabama Power, and especially APSO. Anytime we have a need, they always do what they can to help us." The Eastern Division APSO Chapter gave ECAUCP $1,500 to purchase two toddler swings. The funds were also used to buy fall- zone edging, sand for the sandbox, paint and painting supplies. Before the work got underway that morning, Anniston Market Specialist Janice Vera, Eastern Division Customer Service Manager Rod Nowlin and Eastern Division Marketing Manager Patrick Adams presented a $10,000 NEEP (Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program) grant from the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund. "When ECAUCP bought the building, it had old T-12 fluorescent lighting, which uses a lot of energy," said Vera, who serves on the organization's board and has assisted with its annual telethons through the years. "They will use the grant to help pay for more energy-efficient T-8 bulbs and new light fixtures." Vera said the lighting project is part of ECAUCP's efforts to remodel the 23,184-square-foot building at Fort McClellan. "You can't help but love this organization once you meet the kids. It's such a good feeling to know we are doing something for an organization that may not have had the money to do it themselves." Despite the heat, the workday at the playground had a "cool" ending. APSO volunteers took the Ice Bucket Challenge in honor of Royce Willis, an Eastern Division market specialist who has Lou Gehrig's disease. The chapter donated $500 to the ALS Association and passed the icy baton on to Mobile Division APSO. "ECAUCP touches everyone's heart because they are so willing to help kids and give them what they need," Thacker said. "They focus on many of the same things that are important to APSO, such as education, childhood development and providing jobs for disabled adults." By Carla Davis Eastern APSO helps UCP spruce up new building, grounds in Anniston 100% CONNECTED Employees worked to improve East Central Alabama United Cerebral Palsy building and grounds. Volunteers took the Ice Bucket Challenge. Photos by Billy Brown

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