POWERGRAMS

Helping the homeless 'reach home' With a great emphasis on helping families, most APSO chapters have constructed Habitat for Humanity homes. After the April 8, 1998 tornadoes, for example, Magic City APSO members became prolific Habitat for Humanity homebuilders. Working in scorching hot weather, Magic City began its first "blitz- build." More than 500 members from Alabama Power, Southern Company Services and Southern Nuclear joined forces to build a house in west Jefferson County for a family whose home had been destroyed. Members began work on a second house in the area, working five Saturdays to complete construction. In 1999, Magic City built a home in just one day. In 2003, members built three houses in two weeks in tornado-ravaged Edgewater Oaks. A year later, APSO volunteers decided to pace themselves by building a Habitat home every two years. Marketing and Economic Development Analyst and former Magic City president Susan Ernst said the chapter will build another home this year. When Project Blessings wanted to help a family of five from Alberta City repair their tornado-torn residence in 2012, the Western Division Chapter selected the nonprofit to benefit from the APSO "Zone" parking lot at the Tuscaloosa Office. Project Blessings earned $2,500 from parking spots. Southeast Chapter raised the walls for Wiregrass Habitat for Humanity. Southern Division APSO members supported National Women's Build Week, and Mobile Chapter women comprised Team APSO at a Mobile Ladies' Build. Eastern Chapter members constructed a Habitat home in 2014. Nine chapters have taken part in Habitat builds. The projects have allowed the chapters to build relationships across company lines. For instance, Gaston and Eastern chapters have partnered in constructing homes and sodding yards for the Sylacauga branch of Habitat for Humanity. Strengthening schools helps Alabama students In 1995, APSO leaders decided to make education one of its key focus areas. But members do more than raise money, Grayson said, "They also give of their time and talents to provide invaluable benefits to students." Eastern Division APSO members make character count with Class Act, an education program they teach at Anniston Middle School. Every Tuesday, APSO volunteers teach sixth-graders about ethics, caring, compassion and responsibility. At Plant Gorgas, APSO allows librarians and school principals to select books of their choice annually during a fall Scholastic Book Fair. The nation's largest children's literacy nonprofit, RIF (Reading Is Fundamental), is getting a helping hand from Magic City Chapter members in 2016. Volunteers are reading books to children at Head Start offices. Southern, Gaston, Magic City, Southeast/Farley and other chapters will take part in Dr. Seuss Day and Read Across America this year. Haleyville Middle School students enjoy the ample reading selection at their library, thanks to a $4,000 gift from Western Division APSO. APSO state President Trey Hayes annually takes part in Run for the Reason. Teressa Millwood (center) of the Montgomery Area Food Bank accepts food delivery from Southern Division APSO's Neil Mercer (left) and Joey Merritt. 13

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