Alabama Power brightens return for veterans in Enterprise displaced by roof fire
When a roof fire broke out at the CSM Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home in April 2025, Alabama Power employees, APSO volunteers and community partners quickly came together to support 90 veterans facing temporary displacement.
The fire occurred during a construction project involving the facility’s roof. Fortunately, no residents or staff members were injured during the fire or evacuation.
In response, APSO volunteers coordinated efforts to provide storage containers and assist with transporting the veterans’ personal belongings to the Enterprise Health and Rehabilitation Center while repairs were completed at the veteran’s home.
The relationship between Alabama Power, local community leaders, economic development partners and the veterans home dates back several years. When the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans for a new veterans home, community stakeholders across the region worked together to support the successful selection of the site and have remained committed to the facility and its residents ever since.
As plans for the veterans’ return progressed, the Alabama Power Enterprise Safety Renewal Committee identified an opportunity to continue supporting the residents. Through collaboration and a shared commitment to serving veterans, committee members unanimously selected the veterans home as an APSO project, reinforcing Alabama Power’s longstanding partnership with the facility and the community it serves.
That decision led Samantha Wise, director of the CSM Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, to suggest creating ‘welcome-back’ bags.
The committee designed a custom canvas bag featuring the Alabama Power and Southeast Division’s branding.
More than 100 APSO volunteers from the safety renewal meeting pitched in to assemble the bags. The bags were filled with toiletries, crossword puzzles and other items they could use daily. The completed bags were stored until the veterans returned from their 16-month absence.
More than 100 APSO volunteers assembled the welcome-back bags packed with daily essentials to surprise the veterans returning from a 16-month absence. (contributed)
On September 28, the veterans were welcomed back. The diverse group, aged 55 to 103, represented generations of service from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom.
At the close of the event, Wise expressed her sincere gratitude to Alabama Power for the kindness and support shown to the heroes who have given so much to our community and our country.
“When I saw the beautiful bags created for the veterans I was overwhelmed with joy,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that make the biggest impact and the personalized welcome home bags from Alabama Power were a thoughtful reminder to our veterans that they are valued, appreciated and never forgotten.”
Trent Dillard, Alabama Power Southeast Division community relations manager, expressed his gratitude for the company’s commitment to supporting the veterans, stating:
“I was very happy to take part in this event,” Dillard said. “It warms my heart that Alabama Power is very passionate about our veterans to make sure that we take care of them. For me, this event gave me a sense of pride, not only to assist with veterans for what they have done for our country, and for our community, but also to represent Alabama Power, and the fact that the company for which I work shares those same values.”
Alabama Power Service Organization brings together employees and their families who believe making a difference goes beyond financial support. With nine active chapters across Alabama, APSO members volunteer their time to support local communities where they live and work. In 2025, volunteers contributed an average of nearly four hours per person, proving that philanthropy is not only about dollars given, but about showing up and giving time where it matters most.
The welcome-back bags weren’t the only gift awaiting the returning veterans. Earlier this year, Alabama Power presented the CSM Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home with a bench. The bench is one of six being donated throughout the state and is made of recycled materials sourced from Alabama Power’s general shops. The bench is intended to be used by veterans, their families and employees of the veterans home.
At the Alabama Power bench donation to the Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home in Enterprise were, from left, Jamar Crawford of Alabama Power; Trent Dillard of Alabama Power; Jasmine Bethke with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs; and Samatha Wise director of the CSM Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home. (contributed)
To learn more about the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, visit the website.