POWERGRAMS

19 Amid the pandemic – and often in plain sight – many Alabamians fight a daily battle against hunger. Indeed, one in six people and one in five children in the Yellowhammer State don't have enough to eat, per statistics from Feeding America. As joblessness increased because of the constraints of COVID-19, more families were forced to rely on Alabama food banks, churches and nonprofits for sustenance. With those intense needs presented to the boards of the Alabama Power Service Organization's (APSO) nine chapters, the state group in May shone the spotlight on food insecurity and projects to strengthen the community during Southern Company's Month of Service. APSO encouraged Alabama Power employees to join in efforts to support neighbors and communities by raising money and collecting food for nonprofits and ministries that feed the hungry. APSO's statewide project in 2021 focuses on reducing hunger, with chapters offering a range of options to safely support local nonprofits while helping meet community needs. "This is an ideal time for employees to show how much we care about the people and the communities we serve, all across our state," said APSO State President Jacki Lowry. "Our company was developed for the service of Alabama, and the Southern Company Month of Service provided the perfect opportunity to really make a difference." Throughout the summer, APSO chapters will continue to emphasize projects that combat food insecurity and support child nutrition. Without school in session, Lowry noted, many children who depend on school-prepared breakfasts and lunches often go hungry. TAKING AN UNUSUAL TACK AGAINST HUNGER In February and April, many Mobile Division employees did without daily indulgences to support Mobile APSO. Through the "56 Days of Blessings," employees sacrificed shopping trips, restaurant coffee, smoothies and meals, mani-pedis and even fancy fishing lures to raise nearly $2,000 for area residents. During May, Mobile APSO used the funds to fill backpacks with snacks, fruit and water for children served by Light of the Village in Prichard. A Mobile APSO team gave tuna packs and ravioli to Housing First to distribute to homeless in Mobile County. They donated lunch to homeless women at McKemie Place, an emergency overnight shelter. Members gave backpacks of food to children of the Boat People SOS-Bayou La Batre, an organization supporting the underserved Vietnamese American community. Spurred by Mobile APSO's success, Eastern APSO members in May led a similar fundraiser by giving up an item for a week and donating the savings toward chapter projects. Eastern Division Market Specialist Evan Rogers chaired food drives to help Community Kitchen, summer camps sponsored by the United Way of East Central Alabama and the Boys and Girls Club. Members donated items to the Cleveland Animal Shelter and the Randolph County Learning Center, and more than 1,800 bottles of water for Farm Fest to honor health care workers. They provided food and drinks to about 300 students at Woodland Elementary School's Field Day. WESTERN APSO DELIVERS SMILES Community Relations Specialist Stevi Reese chaired a food drive to benefit West Alabama Food Bank in Northport. "We had a very specific list from the food bank – they wanted foods that would be easy to make so that parents could make quick lunches. They asked that our employees give peanut butter and jelly, crackers and boxed meals," Reese said. Employees from the Demopolis, Northport, Reform and Tuscaloosa offices took part, as well as three Western Division Crew Headquarters and Plant Greene County. When Reese returned to the office June 11 to organize the food, stacks of boxes awaited. Transmission Lines Engineer Joe Edmondson led efforts to provide gift cards to buy lunch for nurses during Nurse Appreciation Week May 6-12. "Thank you so much for donating the four gift cards and for giving us the signed card," the ICU nurse manager at Northport Medical DURING MONTH OF SERVICE, APSO REDUCES HUNGER, APSO Dot Davis, at top, general clerk, and Laura Taylor, CSR, donating to Southeast APSO's project for Crowne Health Care. Photos by Brooke Goff.

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