Connections

3 battle with their "Can Hunger" campaign, collecting canned goods from employees at Alabama Power, Southern Nuclear and Southern Company Services to stock the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. In October, E.C. Gaston Chapter member will collect canned goods for the Wilsonville Food Pantry. Gorgas Chapter's Can Hunger campaign kicks off in November, when Michael Stewart and Nadra Austin will canvass the plant with fliers and install collection bins. Southern Division Chapter takes advantage of the proximity of employees attending annual Safety Renewal meetings. Requesting canned food donations from each attendee, Southern APSO netted 600 pounds of food, said Katrina Davis, customer service representative. The food helps those who receive meals from two locations of Auburn Food Bank, as well as Selma Food Pantry, the Welcome Center in Millbrook, and Elmore County and Perry County food banks. Meals on Wheels Devoting an occasional lunch hour to delivering Meals on Wheels to elderly and/or disabled folks in Western Division gives Matt Neighbors an increased sense of usefulness and personal satisfaction. "I do it at about eight different houses on the west end of Tuscaloosa, and at Hay Court Public Housing Complex, I drop off 11 lunches at the Wellness Center," said Neighbors, a Power Delivery-Distribution engineer and an APSO member for about six years. Senior citizens in Anniston delight in seeing Eric Boykin's familiar face – even if it is on a rotating basis. Boykin is one of several Eastern APSO members who deliver meals from Stringfellow Hospital to shut-in residents every other Thursday. The hospital not only sets the route, it also arranges meals in the order of delivery. "One APSO member drives, and the other gives directions, so it's easy," said Boykin, Eastern APSO president and Distribution Control Center supervisor, Anniston. "People see me pull up, recognize the vehicle and automatically think, 'Hey, Alabama Power is doing this for us.'" Gifts made and given with love Labor Day holidays didn't deter seven Western Division APSO members from rolling up their sleeves at Tuscaloosa's Community Soup Bowl on Aug. 30. Members cooked and served a delicious meal of spaghetti and meatballs to the city's hungry and homeless. "We serve probably 300 people or more each time," said Jenna Madison, who has helped for two years. "We arrive at 8 a.m. to start cooking. They start feeding at 11." Project chairwoman Heather Cain gave a "shout out" to Publix Groceries stores and Panera Bread restaurants for their generosity in donating day-old bread and desserts. "These groups give a ton of stuff." Gifts of service enrich her life, Madison believes. "It makes you feel so good. You see how you're affecting people who are having a hardship in their life. It is a really great feeling." Miller APSO is in on the secret. At least one Thursday a month, Miller members deliver food, clothing and toy donations – and often stock shelves – for Mission of Hope in Dora. Project chairperson Jessica Dunaway and other employees fill food wagons for needy families who are financially pre- approved. "Lines of people come in, and a lot of older people on fixed incomes come there," said Miller APSO President Jamie Driver. "The thing I like is kids can go through and pick out the school supplies they need. We'll do a coat drive for them this fall." Making sure that kids don't go hungry on the weekend is also high on APSO's list. In August, Miller APSO held a juice box drive among employees. "They go through 600 juice boxes a week," said Driver, noting the supplies go to schools throughout Walker County and Sumiton. Miller and Gorgas APSO members are strong supporters of the Backyard Blessings project, giving food to West Jefferson Elementary School. On late Friday afternoons, the staff discreetly place snacks in the backpacks of needy children, so they won't miss eating during the weekend. By Donna Cope a fast-food restaurant and buying a couple of burgers off of the dollar menu and taking them back to the person? On any given day in Alabama there are 6,025 homeless. Of these, 1,638 are unsheltered; 1,328 are chronically homeless; and 527 are veterans. According to the latest data on poverty, Alabama is America's sixth poorest state. Nineteen percent of adults and 28 percent of children in Alabama live below the poverty line. The state's most populous county, Jefferson, has the greatest number of jobs in the state, but a poverty rate of 18.7 percent. Mobile County, which in recent years has attracted high-profile jobs in shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing, still has a poverty rate of 19.7 percent. And Montgomery County, home of our capital, has a 23.2 percent poverty rate. As APSO members, I am proud to say that we work hard in helping drive down these numbers. We volunteer our time in helping at shelters throughout the state. We donate canned food. We give backpacks filled with school supplies to children whose parents can't afford to buy these items. We do so much! But can we do more? I believe we can, and we should. We are very fortunate as employees of Alabama Power. We don't have to worry about our next meal or whether we will have a roof over our heads tonight. I would like you to consider what you can do to help. Remember: We help others because it's the right thing to do! Southeast /Farley Chapter's George Sampson spent a Saturday helping the Food Bank of Dothan provide food to hungry residents. Mobile APSO held its successful food drive – netting 904 pounds – at the summer Safety Symposium. Miller APSO's Driver (left), with Backyard Blessings Director Leneda Jones and Byron Jones, and Dunaway at Backyard Blessings' Sumiton distribution office. Miller Chapter provides juice boxes for children at Sumiton Elementary and Middle schools; Simmons and Memorial Park Elementary schools in Jasper; and Cordova Elementary School.

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