POWERGRAMS

Photo by Bill Snow POWER OF GOOD Miller APSO's Sandra Meacham and Keith Dickey helped fulfill Christmas wishes for 320 children. Residents at senior homes in Jasper, Cordova, Sumiton, Oakman and Carbon Hill were blessed by the efforts of Plant Miller employees. On Dec. 10, Miller APSO members stuffed 200 bags – with 10 gifts for each senior – full of toiletries, stamps and envelopes, notepads, puzzles and other presents. Miller Administrative Support Specialist Jamie Driver has chaired the project for the past two years. "Sometimes this may be the only thing they get for Christmas," Driver said. Plant Greene county employees collected gifts for Project Merry Christmas for Marengo and Greene County DHRs, ensuring the Black Belt's neediest residents will enjoy happier holidays.   Southern Division APSO members in the Greene county subchapter supplied loads of toys, clothing and gifts, which they packaged on Dec. 13. Administrative Support Specialist Sha Torya Eaton, the project coordinator, delivered Jennifer Cassity shows Plant the presents to the Greene County employees' gifts for Marengo and Greene underprivileged children. county DHRs a week later. Material Specialist Shenita Conwell, who has worked on the project for six years, said having "blessed lives" compels them to assist. Conwell lives by the belief, "God blesses you to bless other people." For Eaton, involvement in APSO – and the spirit of giving back to her community – is extremely important. She contacted Marengo and Greene counties' DHRs for the wish lists of needy children. "It brings joy to me knowing I have the ability to go out and help somebody," Eaton said. Plant Gorgas employees, including APSO members such as Financial Specialist Nadra Austin, reveled in the joyous season 4 during the week of Dec. 13. Becoming "Santas in action," about 20 volunteers bagged hundreds of toys at a warehouse near the Jasper Business Office. The gifts went to more than 500 underprivileged families in Walker County. Share-A-Toy Walker County, led by Electrical and Instrumentation Journeyman Fred Nixon and financed through Gorgas APSO's annual golf tournament, purchased the toys this summer. On Dec. 14, Gorgas APSO members provided gifts for 25 residents and volunteered for an evening Christmas party for more than 200 residents helped through the Tri-County Agency for Intellectual Disabilities. Members of the APSO Gorgas and Western Division Jasper subchapter teamed up to celebrate during Jasper's annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 2. They decorated a flatbed truck to create a float employing a 1950s theme, emblazoned with "APSO's Rockin' Merry Christmas." Thousands of residents lined downtown streets for about two hours, enjoying one of the county's largest-ever parades. But Jasper APSO's biggest feat was providing gifts for 60 children adopted through the Salvation Army Angel Tree, said Tiffaney Stephens, Western Division Marketing administrative assistant. Western Division APSO President Charles Elledge said members of the Northwest subchapter stayed busy making the Haleyville Office a toy depot for needy children. Engineer Sarah Barnes chaired the Tuscaloosa subchapter's collection of Salvation Army angel gifts. Plant Gorgas Maintenance Specialist Theresa Black led the Winterize A Heart coat APSO members bought bikes campaign for needy for many kids. children at Walker, Fayette and Jefferson county elementary and middle schools. School liaisons provided Gorgas employees with the coat sizes of children who would otherwise attend school without a jacket in cold weather. Gaston APSO members volunteered Dec. 6-9 at the Outdoor Friends Forever program, which allows the disabled to enjoy a safe day of shooting, hunting and fishing in Kellington. "We provided a meal for about 100 folks," said Mechanic Justin Bailey, chapter

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