APSO Helps During the Holidays
APSO / Volunteerism, Community Giving
Alabama Power employees care and commitment to helping never shines brighter than during the Christmas season, when many of those 6,500 workers reach out to the hurting and needy in their communities.
Warming hearts within our communities is the specialty of Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) members, said President Paige Lake – and not just during the holidays.
“Whether shopping for a needy family or adopting Angels from the Salvation Army, our member’s efforts continue to amaze me,” said Lake, market specialist for Energy Sales and Services - Western Division. “Time after time, if a need arises, an APSO chapter is there to meet that need. And in 2011, the needs have been tremendous.”
APSO has done it’s best to help communities this holiday season. Here’s a sampling statewide:
• Western Division APSO’s Haleyville subchapter made sure Santa would be on the scene for youngsters. They gave new toys and donations to Toys for Kids.
• APSO members found one more opportunity to help Tuscaloosa tornado victims by dropping of packets of winter clothes for storm victims at the Salvation Army.
• Employees in the APSO Jasper subchapter bought gifts for 18 Salvation Army Angels and participated in “A Christmas to Recover” for April 27 storm victims.
• Southeast/Farley chapter’s holiday activities covered a gamut of projects.
• They donated holiday gift-wrap to support the Eufaula Police Department’s holiday program to collect and deliver toys to children on Christmas Eve.
• They assisted the House of Ruth shelter in Dothan for battered women and children by wrapping gifts at Wiregrass Commons Mall and selling poinsettias.
• Employees collected toys for Valley Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway and collected food for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Food Pantry.
• The chapter also partnered with the local IBEW at Plant Farley to donate toys and clothing for two children, as well as sending Christmas cares packages to U.S. troops overseas.
• Wetumpka Office employees donated to the county’s Food Pantry, Department of Human Resources and the Humane Society. A portion of those gifts from Southeast Division APSO members bought dinner for Elmore County foster families, which was also served by some APSO volunteers.
• Plant Miller APSO members were Santa’s helpers by shopping for Salvation Army Angels.
• Eastern Division APSO employees scrambled to buy and deliver gifts to the Salvation Army Angels.
• Christmas wishes will come true for hundreds of Walker County children, thanks to Gorgas APSO Chapter’s successful annual golf tournament. The competition allows the Gorgas APSO Chapter to donate more than 600 bagfuls of toys to the Walker County Share-A-Toy campaign. From the proceeds, APSO also provided more than 150 winter coats for underprivileged children at schools in Walker and Fayette counties.
• Mobile Division APSO chapter bought 25 Christmas presents for children sponsored by the Mobile DHR. The gifts were made possible through numerous chapter fundraisers throughout the Mobile Division.
• Magic City APSO members shopped for Salvation Army Angels as part of two different projects. Thanks to employees’ generosity during APSO and Energizers’ August auction, APSO supplied Christmas gifts for 20 storm-stricken families and also adopted some 500 more Angels.
For Donna Cope’s complete text on APSO volunteerism during the holidays, see the December 19, 2011 issue of Powergrams. You can download the story in its entirety in the APSO section.
