POWERGRAMS

12 Tuscaloosa Bar Association helped fund the construction. "From the top down, this house is built to withstand 155 mile per hour winds," Pos said. "We build a high-quality house. The roofing system is sealed to prevent water damage. We added a tornado-safe room that meets FEMA standards, to make the house even safer." Members of the Western Division Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) added sweat equity to the Edwards' home. O'Connor and Atchley co-chaired Habitat workday projects in which Western employees worked from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. APSO volunteers spent more than 200 hours building and painting the house. Western APSO members' last Saturday of work – June 1 – was biersweet. It was Sam's birthday, but also the anniversary of Arielle's death. O'Connor and Atchley coordinated with High Socks for Hope, a charitable group in Tuscaloosa, to provide furniture. Aer the June 28 home dedication, Western APSO volunteers picked up a couch, recliners, a maress and box springs from the nonprofit and delivered the items to the Edwards family. "I'm very happy and very blessed and so appreciative of Alabama Power Company," said Edwards, who now works for ARC to help disabled people. "It's been a long journey, but it was worth the wait. "Our house is very beautiful," she said, smiling. "We picked out the open-floor plan we wanted. It's very nice for me and my family. I've got this nice porch I can't wait to fix up, and I am so grateful." As Edwards continues to share her story, she has become emotionally stronger. "I'm raising my granddaughter, and she looks just like my daughter," Edwards said. The way Atchley sees it, she and O'Connor were destined to talk with Edwards. "We're here to serve and help people," said Atchley, a Western APSO member for 20 years. "You just never know what people are going through. I felt God put her here for us to help. Look where she's at now – it was all God's plan." Local media showed up to film the June 28 home dedication.

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