POWERGRAMS

30 Office in Tuscaloosa in 2008. Later, when George worked at Hueytown and Power Delivery- Distribution in Birmingham Division, he began recruiting other employees. George became the project chairman for Birmingham Division. "We've expanded to about 32 people in our division who take part," George said. "In my office, we do one route monthly and spread the volunteers as needed. This project has been on my heart, and it is part of my calling. I knew it was a worthy cause. It only takes one and a half to two hours of your time. You visit with 10 to 15 families who really need it. It's mostly homebound, confined families of low income. "The people are real appreciative, and they really need it. They'd be struggling without it." George said. The APSO team from George's office picks up meals prepared by Living Church Ministries in Birmingham. George sets up routes that take volunteers to about 12 houses. Stops are usually the same, among the more than 65 varied Meals on Wheels routes in Jefferson County to which volunteers are assigned. "People recognize your face," George said. "We use our personal vehicles, and tell them that we are with the Alabama Power Service Organization. They smile, and we ask them about how they are doing. It's a special time with people." Employee volunteers serve lunches Monday through Friday, with Meals on Wheels providing about 400 meals daily countywide. Meals are funded by the Jefferson County Council on Aging. While George said his group has its delivery system "down pat," with employees from Accounting, Southern Company Services and other Corporate Headquarters groups rounding out the Magic City APSO volunteer list. He constantly tries to spread the word about Meals on Wheels. "We can always use more volunteers and support," George said. "This is a great project for the company in that it also brings positive recognition to our community involvement. Alabama Power management and APSO allow us to conveniently use our lunch hour for community service." TUSCALOOSA RESIDENTS GET HELP FROM WESTERN DIVISION APSO Elderly and disabled people in Tuscaloosa get help from several members of APSO's Western Division Chapter. For many years, employees such as Matt Neighbors have taken part in strengthening their community by volunteering for Meals on Wheels. Neighbors spent more than four years helping deliver meals, always working through his lunch hour. "Our route was on the west side of Tuscaloosa, and we'd do eight or nine stops," said Neighbors, who has worked at the company for nine years. "We always helped out on the first Thursday of the month." Neighbors considered it a small sacrifice to give his lunch time to serve meals to people in need. "You're helping folks out who really can't help themselves," said Neighbors, Headland Engineering supervisor the past two years. "I'd pull up in my Alabama Power truck and they'd say, 'He's with the power company, but he's helping out on his own time.'" BRINGING HOT MEALS TO SOUTHERN ALABAMA Southern Division APSO President Latonia Tisdale said she's found much purpose in life by helping with her local Meals on Wheels organization. Southern APSO members work with the First Baptist Church of Selma, which prepares and boxes the meals. Nita Summerlin, a clerk for Power Delivery Distribution at the Selma Office, is reaching out to get more APSO members involved. The team works on rotation, with company volunteers delivering meals on the second Wednesday each month. "When I worked in Selma, I delivered Meals on Wheels every month," Tisdale said. "There's the expectation that you'll be there — you're that one friendly face, and it just brings people joy. It's a really good program. "Delivering the food makes you see the people and appreciate everything you have," she said. "We take for granted that we can go to the refrigerator, but some people can't. This project makes us appreciate our families." George and Ramey make delivery to happy recipient.

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