POWERGRAMS

15 Booth waited a year before joining the Jasper Energizers, giving in to the prodding of his longtime friend Henry Banks. "When I retired, I knew that I wanted to do volunteer and charitable work, but at the time I didn't know that Energizers do this," he said. Since he joined, Booth has been Jasper Energizers president, president-elect, treasurer and a board member. "We have a great group of officers, board members and members who are very civic- minded. That makes serving in any capacity a pleasure," Booth said. "I got to be president-elect and ended up as president for about seven or eight years. We switch up the presidency between Guy Robbins, Jan Webb and me. Energizers is great because you get to continue relationships from when you were working, enjoying their fellowship and meeting new people." Energizers Coordinator Don Franklin said Booth, who he has known for more than 40 years, leads by example. "Doug has always been a fair-minded person who would extend his hand to help anybody," said Franklin, who worked with Booth at Plant Miller. "He has brought those same qualities to his leadership of the Jasper Energizers and has the true heart of a servant leader. You can tell that he's really concerned about people in his community and wants to make their lives better, and he helps do this by volunteering." Fortifying Walker County agencies For about five years, Jasper Energizers members have sold Priester's pecans at Thanksgiving and Christmas, a fundraiser that greatly increases the chapter's gifts to the Walker County community. "We help raise anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000 a year for charity," Booth said. "The fundraisers and being able to help different charities means a lot to me." He's pleased that Energizers supports Backyard Blessings, a ministry in Dora that provides lunches and after-school meals to schoolchildren. Leneda Sides Jones, executive director of Backyard Blessings, said Jasper Energizers spend their Thursday mornings packing children's lunches. "Like clockwork, we're at the Piggly Wiggly in Dora," said Jones, who started the nonprofit in 2010. "We have about 34 people who help, and some Jasper Energizers, such as Danny Baker and others, are our regulars." Booth and other Jasper board members recently made lunches for 850 children. During the school year, Alabama Power retiree Joe Lively drives the delivery truck to nine elementary and middle schools in Jasper and Dora. The Jasper Energizers annually donate to Daybreak Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama. Lila Sears, executive director of Daybreak, said that she and her eight-member Booth packs containers with student lunches. Booth and other Energizers prepare after-school meals for transport from Backyard Blessings.

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