POWERGRAMS

100% CONNECTED There are just 24 hours in a day, making the gift of time doubly precious during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Tan Grayson believes. "It's so important – when you talk about Christmas, for most of the children that APSO serves, if we didn't do fundraisers and our employees didn't give of their time to go shopping, the children wouldn't have toys. And if we don't organize food drives, many families may not have food at the holidays," said Communications Specialist Grayson, the volunteer services coordinator of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO). Although the demands grow greater each year, Alabama Power employees always rise to the challenge, Grayson said. Gaston Chapter members were on the road the day before Thanksgiving to make sure families in need had a healthful meal of turkey and all the fixings, said Gaston Chapter President Jodi Webb. Grace Baptist Church members prepared the food. Nov. 25 was a "Turkey Day" extravaganza for Eastern Division APSO members Lisa Rinehart and her son, Tyler Hayes, with Steve Marlowe and his children, Grier and Tommy, who helped carve 150 turkeys. Sponsored by the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE), the project provided Thanksgiving dinner for 3,000 people in Talladega and Coosa counties, said SAFE Executive Director Margaret Morton. At the Pell City Office, Customer Service Representative Amanda Young challenged her co-workers to fill at least one grocery bag with nonperishable food, or make a donation to the Let's Can Hunger drive Nov. 2-16 to benefit the Christian Love Pantry. Their break area overflowed with donations. On Nov. 23, Mobile APSO volunteers delivered turkeys and hams to Wilmer Hall Children's Home, ensuring residents had Thanksgiving dinner, said Chapter President Ryan Allenbach. Mobile Division Customer Service Supervisor Wanda Buchanan was the project chair. Risk Management Analyst Allison Allen and her team delivered holiday fare to women and children at Penelope House. Families at the Ronald McDonald House in Mobile were treated to dinner cooked by Brewton PD Distribution Specialist Jason Newby and his team. Mobile employees gave Salvation Army Angel Tree gifts to 25 children, with APSO contributing to Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army. At Plant Gaston, "Christmas for the Kids" was on the minds of many employees. On Dec. 7, APSO members shopped for gifts to children served by departments of human resources (DHR) in Bibb, Chilton, Clay, Shelby and Talladega counties. The needs of the homeless did not go unnoticed at Gaston, where APSO donation stations dotted several plant areas. Employees held a fundraiser to supply hygiene items for care packets. At Miller, Maintenance Team Leader Tracy Pope put out a call for jars of peanut butter, as requested by Jimmie Hale Mission and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. "It doesn't matter where it goes – somebody's getting to eat today," Pope said. At Plant Barry, Feleshia Williams helmed the Can Hunger project, setting up areas where employees could donate to the Bay Area Food Bank. Barry APSO President Amanda Lofton's members partnered with Mobile Division APSO in storing donated staples in the Bay Area Food Bank's warehouse in Theodore. Magic City APSO held fundraisers to benefit Salvation Army Angels. Quality and Training Analyst Erica Lamar-Coney – for 15 years running – has chaired the project that makes Christmas wishes come true. Birmingham Division Power Delivery (PD) employees selected toys, clothing and other items. PD sponsors annual clay shoots and golf tournaments to earn money for Christmas gifts for needy children. PD Engineer Laramie Cook chaired the Aug. 14 golf tournament that raised $23,340. PD Business Processes Analyst Charlene Tucker, PD Executive Assistant Debbie Self and Cook led employees who shopped in Pelham and Gardendale in November. Salvation Army members requested two dedicated cash registers for the PD shoppers, who spent $100 each on 200 Angels on Nov. 19, Tucker said. "Since 2003, we've earned more than $340,000 to help buy gifts for children at Christmas," said Tucker, project coordinator and shopper for 12 years. Employees in Anniston, Jacksonville and Heflin offices contributed to the Salvation Army Angel Tree. Chris Ritchie chaired the project. APSO volunteers in Oneonta and Blountsville kept their six-year tradition of supporting children at the Hope House, supplying gifts through Angel Tree. Many of the families receive the gifts through Blount County DHR, said chair Rebecca Stallings. Magic City President Wells Cooner said members honored U.S. veterans' military service by placing Christmas wreaths on headstones at Jefferson Memorial Gardens. Sponsored through Wreaths Across America, employees took time from their weekend to decorate. APSO provided the wreaths, which were purchased through fundraising and donations. Through the Gorgas Christmas Angels project, employees provided toys to the Salvation Army for children. Plant Control Operators Chelsa Graves and Kay Chumbler co-chaired Gorgas's 2015 golf tournament to raise money for gifts. Brightening the holidays for less fortunate families is a tradition for Tallassee Office employees, who support the Association of Christians in Tallassee for Service (ACTS), said APSO Chair Melinda Landers Emfinger. ACTS serves as a food bank and distributes clothing, and provides energy assistance for residents. On Nov. 1, Southern Division APSO's Tallassee subchapter shopped for underprivileged children under ACTS. Senior citizens in Dothan are keeping warm, thanks to Southeast/Farley APSO members. "The Santa for Seniors project always warms our hearts," said Farley Nuclear Plant Secretary Melanie Rogers. Southeast/Farley members bought soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, food supplement drinks and adult diapers for distribution. Members made gift baskets with nonperishable food for the project, chaired by Ashford Office Supervisor Tracy Dismukes, to help the elderly in Gordon. Barry APSO volunteers shopped for Christmas gifts for 75 Mobile DHR foster children, Lofton said. "We spent $200 per child for Christmas gifts," Lofton said. The holidays are happier ones for youngsters at the Home of Grace, Mulherin Home, St. Mary's Home and the Ronald McDonald House in Mobile thanks to Barry APSO members. Volunteers buy items on wish lists for each home, delivering shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion, sheets, towels and washcloths. Barry APSO is a fixture at the Mobile Salvation Army annual Contributions Breakfast. APSO invites 12 charities to attend. "This year, Barry APSO hopes to increase its donation to about $23,000," to be divided among the charities, Lofton said. For more than 25 years, Barry APSO has steered the project that supplies dinner to more than 100 families on Christmas Eve. Barry Employee Development Coordinator Stacy Simmons and about 40 employees traveled to homes in Mobile delivering to each family a turkey, a vegetable, a pie and a gallon of milk. Making spirits bright is the specialty of Western APSO, whose members decorated Christmas parade floats. Beverly Silas and Western APSO President Jenna Madison helped with the 2015 West Alabama Christmas Parade, while Lindsey Dill assisted with the Jasper Christmas Parade. About 55 Salvation Army Angels in the Tuscaloosa vicinity received Christmas presents, thanks to employee gifts. Tuscaloosa Engineer Sarah Barnes chaired the Angel project. As part of the Christmas Visions program, Miller APSO members bought presents for 310 children, said Rachel Edgil - Power Generation analyst. Edgil said Miller APSO bought gifts for 100 children sponsored by Walker County DHR, and supplied presents for 200 children through the Jefferson County DHR. "It is groups like APSO that make the holidays beautiful," said SAFE's Morton. By Donna Cope Employees ensure 'Santa stops here,' brightening holidays for those in need 2 Gorgas APSO's Elizabeth Dawkins (left), her daughter, Sarah, and Natalie McClendon shopped for Walker County DHR and Salvation Army Angel Tree recipients.

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