POWERGRAMS

10 APSO PAST president leads charge for aid to his old hometown Since a tornado devastated his old neighborhood in Selma Jan. 12, Broderick Smith Broderick Smith has been overwhelmed by feelings of loss as he travels the streets of his boyhood. Smith knew about destruction from his Army deployment to Afghanistan in 2004 to 2005. But those memories didn't compare to what he saw in Selma's worst-hit areas: His treasured "stomping grounds," where he and his brother, Tony Tony, Customer Services manager in Gadsden, grew up. "After witnessing firsthand what happened in Selma – the video, the drones, what you see on TV – it does no justice," said Smith, who is retired from the Air Force Reserve. "Selma is a real war zone. I've never seen devastation like this in the United States. What I've seen up close in Selma was worse than Afghanistan." Though Smith has lived in Montgomery for eight years, a piece of his heart remains in Selma, where his parents reside. "Part of the area that was damaged was where Tony and I grew up 40 years ago," said Smith, community relations specialist – Montgomery Office, Southern Division. "To see the streets where we played football, in a corner lot … to see that lot is no longer there. It's crazy because it happened on a Thursday, and as I drove through Friday, I could not recognize one of the streets that we lived on. That's how bad it looked the day after the tornado came through." Those devastating images have made Smith push hard for the city's restoration. When he closes his eyes, memories of happier days in Selma come flooding back. "It's my hometown. I have a passion to help rebuild," he said. "It's my duty as an employee of Alabama Power, and it's my duty in my heart to try to help the citizens of Selma." To that end, Smith worked quickly to figure out how to respond and get help to the city's displaced residents. He invited Charitable Giving Specialist Andrew Rhodes Andrew Rhodes to tour the damage in the city's hard- hit areas. Smith, 2022 state president of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO), rallied early for support and assistance from APSO's nine chapters across the state. From the start, several Alabama Power business offices provided donation bins so employees and customers could donate items for Selma residents. APSO's February board meeting in Montgomery was the perfect opportunity for members to work in tandem. More than 30 members spent about two hours sorting donations, which included necessities such as food, bottled water, clothing and blankets; infant formula, baby wipes and diapers; tissue and other paper goods; personal hygiene items; and cleaning supplies. Mississippi Power donated nonperishable goods, including food and supplies. "APSO board members filled three trucks and a car, then we delivered it to the Selma local office," Smith said. Afterward, Smith, with Southern Division Community Relations Manager Aubrey Carter Aubrey Carter and Field Services Representative Rick McCrary Rick McCrary, on Feb. 14 loaded company vehicles with the donations for the Dallas County Family Resource Center. The team delivered food and supplies that were distributed to displaced residents of Selma and the Dallas County area, said Tia Stevenson, Operations coordinator and executive assistant - Dallas County Family Resource Center. The center is usually open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. "It was so much stuff, we were still unloading everything for a few days afterward," Stevenson said. "We are so appreciative of these gifts. We were seeing about 53 families a day after the storm. We allow Smith said the Selma storm damage was worse than he'd seen in bale. PHOTO BY ANDREW RHODES

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