Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1323883
27 27 ENERGIZERS A "honey-do" list kept Danny Copeland busy for a while, but aer several months of the extended pandemic, he discovered that true satisfaction comes from helping others. When social distancing began in March 2020, Copeland happily complied. The 65-year-old Alabama Power retiree figured the coronavirus was ample reason to stay home, making repairs and handling tasks he had needed to accomplish. "It's been different," said Copeland, who enjoys social activities and being around people. "Aer COVID-19 hit, my wife, Mary Ann, and I have done our best with the social distancing thing. Since I couldn't be around a lot of people, I focused on doing things around the house." Copeland stayed busy by making home repairs: "I spent about as much money as I need to at all the home improvement stores. This staying at home and working on the house got expensive aer a while." Even though his household work kept him busy, it wasn't long before Copeland was yearning for interaction with others and a change of scenery. "The pandemic has really limited what I can do, and there's only so much yardwork I can do," said Copeland, a member of the Corporate Chapter of the Energizers, Alabama Power's retiree service organization. He joined the Energizers aer working nearly 25 years at Alabama Power, from stints in Power Delivery Construction in Western Division to the General Services Complex and Birmingham Division. Copeland retired as a Fleet Services subforeman in 2008. To maintain health safety standards, members of the 11 Energizers chapters ceased meeting during the pandemic. Since last June, Copeland has helped with food distribution at the Living Stones Temple in Fultondale and the First Missionary Baptist Church-East Boyles in Tarrant. Copeland thinks the work is a "good volunteer thing to be involved in." The Living Stones Temple's food-donation operation is a well-oiled machine. Copeland estimates that by mid-December up to 1,000 cars Corporate Energizer finds Copeland helps pack and deliver food boxes each week at First Missionary Baptist Church-East Boyles in Tarrant.