Connections

4 ALABAMA POWER SERVICE ORGANIZATION in touch Editor: Donna cope 205-257-1951 art director: clyde adams 205-257-2632 aPso director: tan Grayson 205-257-4611 aPso executive director: hallie Bradley 205-257-4245 About our cover red-shirted Miller APSO members can often be found volunteering their time at the Arc of Walker County in Jasper, helping lead the way toward independence for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in our communities. Miller Chapter President Jamie Driver said that members consider the Arc one of their "adopted" organizations, which employees are committed to assist on an as-needed basis. "Arc calls us when they need something," Driver said. Several Miller members, including Carla Chandler (standing, left), Yolanda Guerra and Driver, recently joined with Arc residents in painting a colorful mural at the facility's residential area. in 2013, Miller APSO assisted Arc in building raised flower and vegetable beds, whose success greatly delighted residents and Arc staff: the raised gardens continued to produce throughout 2014, Driver said. Photo by Wynter Byrd Analyst Allison Allen, who shopped with Ryan Allenbach, Joyce Boshell and Valencia Chaney. Mobile business offices held Toys for Tots drives and encouraged customers to take part. Gorgas APSO boosted the Walker County DHR Share-A-Toy campaign, supplying gifts in time for Christmas. Led by Electrical and Instrumentation Journeyman Fred Nixon, Gorgas raised money through its annual golf tournament. Gorgas APSO members wrapped gifts they bought for 30 residents and caregivers at the Tri-County Agency for Intellectual Disabilities. Gorgas volunteers helped with the center's Christmas party for more than 200 residents and caregivers. Members bought jackets, clothes, socks, underwear and toys for children served by the Parrish Christmas Giveaway. Southern Division employees donated to a sock drive to benefit the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH), led by Customer Service Supervisors Sharhonda Henry and Kim Thomas. CSC-South employees donated socks for men, women and children, filling seven baskets. 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 donated paper products and housekeeping items to Wilmer Hall. Holiday efforts kept Plant Barry employees busy as they shopped for gifts for 40 children sponsored through the Mobile DHR, said Employee Coordinator and Barry APSO member Stacy Simmons. Members didn't allow the season's busyness keep them from celebrating birthdays of young residents at the monthly birthday party at St. Mary's Home, the state's oldest child welfare agency. Warm meals, warm hearts Hundreds of Alabama Power employees throughout the state donated to food drives sponsored by APSO chapters, ensuring that needy families enjoyed holiday meals. "It took plenty of teamwork, clear communication and organization to make these big events happen," Grayson said. Magic City's Can Hunger drive yielded more than 1,500 pounds of food given to the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, in one of APSO's largest food drives ever, Grayson said. Employees at Birmingham Division, Corporate Headquarters, the General Services Complex and Southern Nuclear gave food donations. Southern Division employees took part to benefit the Montgomery Area Food Bank. Eastern Division APSO members held a canned food drive, collecting about 200 items for Community Enabler Developer in Anniston, an agency that provides food, clothing and utility assistance to people in need in Calhoun County. In Sylacauga, Eric Boykin was among five Eastern APSO volunteers helping 20 folks carve turkeys for the 12th annual communitywide Thanksgiving dinner. More than 700 families were fed during the event sponsored by the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement. In Mobile, Theodore Office Supervisor Sharon Murrill and Allison Allen led Mobile APSO teams delivering holiday hams and turkeys to Wilmer Hall Children's Home and Penelope House Family Violence Center. Allen, Mobile APSO president, said members also donated to the Salvation Army to provide 700 holiday meals. As part of Barry Chapter's 24th annual Christmas Eve delivery program, Simmons said that APSO members and volunteers traversed the Mobile area to deliver a holiday meal of turkey, vegetables and dessert to more than 50 needy and shut-in residents. In Wilsonville, the arrival of Plant Gaston employees in two Alabama Power trucks "positively made the day" for Penny and David Kovakas, who operate the nonprofit Kovakas Food Pantry. Plant Gaston employees donated 1,075 pounds of food, said Financial Specialist Melissa Williamson. The donations were just in time to put holiday dinners on the tables of needy families. "I was overwhelmed and humbled by this donation," Penny Kovakas said. "We have people come from all over Shelby County, as far away as Talladega County, for food. "It puts you in awe to see so much giving," she said. "We are so grateful to Alabama Power's employees." By Donna Cope "What we do is all about helping families and people in need. We can't shut our eyes to the needs of our communities." Tan Grayson, APSO Community Initiatives specialist DoN't mIss the FuN! RO S S BR I D G E 2015 APSO COnventiOn 4 0 0 0 G r a n d A v e n u e Birmingham, AL 35226 m a r k y o u r C a l e N D a r t o at t e N D Feb. 4-5

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