POWERGRAMS

23 10 Not knowing where your next meal is coming from is tough: It's not only physically daunting, but it's emotionally trying, especially for kids. "Imagine not knowing for days on end when you may eat again," said Jim Jones, who with his wife, Linda, runs Alabama Childhood Food Solutions (ACFS) in Sylacauga. "There are a lot of hungry people out there." That realization was the impetus behind the Jones founding the food bank in 2012. What began as a two- person operation has mushroomed into a full-fledged food bank that provides sustenance to thousands of families each year. "I never dreamed we'd deliver more food than my pickup truck could carry," said Jones, reflecting on the project that has assisted families in Calhoun, Coosa, Randolph, Shelby and Talladega counties. The project depends on the volunteerism and financial gifts of hundreds of people who want to end childhood hunger in Alabama. "The need is real," Jones said. "This past year, we helped 2,000 seriously food-insecure families and thousands of students who may not have food when they leave school for the day." The food bank receives financial support from 34 churches, 20 businesses, about 1,000 patrons and several charitable groups. ACFS partners with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and with Feeding America. In the past two years, the Alabama Power Foundation has provided more than $25,000 to the food bank, with another gift pending. "Every donation is some child's next meal," Jones said. "I want people to know that Alabama Power is doing more than just lighting the state. They are feeding those who can't help themselves." Fulfilling the mission: 'Go and be filled' Strengthening communities is one of the major goals of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO). It's no surprise that Alabama Childhood Food Solutions came onto the Gaston Chapter's radar. When Gaston APSO board members heard the food bank needed volunteers, "folks at my plant jumped at the chance to help," said Jodi Webb, Gaston APSO president. Since last August, Webb and several Plant Gaston employees have helped the food bank, doing everything from sorting food to filling carts to carrying food out to clients' cars. During food distribution days on the first and third Thursday each month, up to 40 volunteers are needed to help distribute food, Jones said. Webb, along with Gaston Plant Manager Brian Heinfeld, Lee Coxwell, Steve Culberson, Aldin Francisco, Ricky Harris, Christina Jackson, Frank Jackson, James Jones, Terez Kelly, Barbara McGinnis, Wanda Sherbert, David Sims, Jay Tomlin, Jim Waddle and Jasmine Woods have joined other volunteers filling food bags for underserved families. With approval from team leaders and managers, Gaston volunteers work an 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift at the food bank. "We go with the ebb and flow of outages and regular work," Webb said. "At the food bank, I may be working in meat packing or storing items in the bread cooler." Families select the food they want. It's strenuous work for volunteers, who for each family fill a large box with fresh produce, milk, meat and canned goods. The box travels down a conveyor belt donated by Wal-Mart. At the end of the line, a volunteer picks up the average 50-pound box, places it on a cart and delivers the food to the recipient's car. Webb and other Gaston employees often fill food bags for children sponsored through the ACFS backpack project. In the past three years, the food bank supplied 767,000 meals and snacks to more than 2,000 elementary and high school students who otherwise would have been hungry. "You just don't know the number of kids in a hunger situation," said Webb, who said her two children are blessed. "There are so many food-deprived children right in the neighborhood. This is nourishing, healthy food. It's amazing to see." When Gaston APSO members heard that ACFS needed a pallet stacker, they donated $3,400 for the purchase. Webb always returns from volunteering with a heart of gratitude: It's opened her eyes to the hunger around her. "I see children who come in with their families, and elderly folks who can barely drive," said Webb, a Gaston chemical technician for nine years. "Seeing it in real life, it just changes you. You're busy the entire time you're there, and it's a lot of work, but it's absolutely worth it. The look you see on peoples' faces, they are so appreciative. It's worth it to see how we can touch lives." Culberson said helping at the food bank is one of the most heart-rending things he's done in his 40 years at Alabama Power. "When I worked there in November, there was a young couple there to get food, and they were holding a toddler," he said. "I wished them a happy Thanksgiving, and the man told me, 'Yes sir, we're going to have one now. We can finally put food in our refrigerator.'" "It stunned me," said Culberson, who works in Planning. "As long as there's nothing pressing at the plant, I want to be a part of this." "Seeing it in real life, it just changes you. You're busy the entire time you're there, and it's a lot of work, but it's absolutely worth it. The look you see on peoples' faces, they are so appreciative." - Jodi Webb, Gaston APSO president APSO

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