POWERGRAMS

Toy Drive and Toys For Tots to benefit the Salvation Army and charitable groups along the Gulf Coast. "The company also gave funds to buy toys," said Risk Management Analyst Allison Allen, who shopped with Ryan Allenbach, Joyce Boshell and Valencia Chaney. The caring continued with Mobile offices holding Toys for Tots drives that allowed customers to take part. Gorgas boosted the Walker County DHR Share-A-Toy campaign, buying toys they delivered on Dec. 20 so children would have their gifts in time for Christmas. Led by Electrical and Instrumentation Journeyman Fred Nixon, Gorgas APSO raised money for the toys through its annual golf tournament. On Dec. 13, Gorgas APSO members wrapped gifts they bought for 30 residents and caregivers at the Tri-County Agency for Intellectual Disabilities. APSO volunteers helped with the center's Christmas party for more than 200 residents and caregivers. Gorgas APSO members bought jackets, clothes, socks, underwear and toys for children served by the Parrish Christmas Giveaway. Many seniors in Southeast Division will have a merrier Christmas thanks to APSO members. Employees gathered items on Dec. 4 and delivered them to the South Alabama Regional Council on Aging (SARCOA) the next day. At the Enterprise Office, Community Relations Specialist Katie Thomas said, "In lieu of drawing names and giving each other gifts, we adopted seven seniors in Coffee and Geneva counties, supported through SARCOA." Enterprise Marketing Specialist Mary Sue Cain, an APSO member for 22 years, said, "The lists from these SARCOA seniors really touch your heart. They're not asking for gifts, they're asking for necessary items." Cain said employees bought robes, pajamas, thermal underwear, slippers, blankets, comforters and detergent. "We also gave eight seniors a bag of groceries," she said. Ozark Customer Service Representative Whitney Woodall delivered gifts to SARCOA seniors for her office. Ashford Office employees Tracy Dismukes, Shanda McKissack, Jarrod Oates and Ann Michelle Straughn assembled gifts for 30 people at the Gordon Senior Citizen Center for delivery on Dec. 19. Plant Farley APSO supported Santa for Seniors as a way to share the spirit of Christmas with people who have basic needs, said Chapter President Keshia Faulk. Since 2007, Southeast/Farley APSO members and employees have helped sponsor about 400 seniors. Southern Division employees donated to a sock drive from Oct. 27 to Dec. 1 to benefit the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH), led by Customer Service Supervisors Sharhonda Henry and Kim Thomas. When Henry and Thomas contacted MACH to offer assistance, the representatives replied, "You called at the right time." CSC-South employees donated socks for men, women and children, filling seven baskets. "We also gave MACH a monetary donation and some employees gave blankets for the city of Montgomery's blanket drive," Henry said. Mobile Division employees held a drive for coats and other supplies for the Sybil Smith Family Village and Family Promise, organizations that provide transitional housing to homeless women and children. They also donated paper products and housekeeping items to Wilmer Hall. Holiday efforts kept Plant Barry employees busy as they shopped on Nov. 21 for gifts for 40 children sponsored through the Mobile DHR, said Employee Coordinator and Barry APSO member Stacy Simmons. The season's busyness didn't prevent Barry APSO members from celebrating birthdays of young residents on Dec. 8 at St. Mary's Home, the state's oldest child welfare agency. Barry APSO donated $15,000 to 10 charitable groups during its annual Contributions Breakfast on Dec. 12. As part of the Illuminations fundraiser 5 100% CONNECTED Chiquita Earle, Southern APSO-Selma subchapter, right, was among employees who delivered Christmas gifts to Meals on Wheels recipients. Eastern Division APSO volunteers Jacki-Lyn Thacker (left) and Adriane Burgess bagged gifts for Salvation Army Angels in Anniston.

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