Holidays are merrier and brighter statewide with help from Alabama Power volunteers
During the holiday season, hundreds of members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) and the Energizers are putting boots on the ground to help those in need.
For nearly 35 years, APSO and Energizers members have carried a legacy of service that strengthens families and builds community. This November and December, volunteers have joined together in about 65 service projects that support people of all ages and assist dozens of nonprofits serving the underserved.
Miller APSO spreads holiday cheer that lasts
Making life better is a mission close to Dion Oliver’s heart – and one shared by many in APSO’s fellowship of service. Oliver, a condition‑based maintenance specialist at Plant Miller in West Jefferson, spends time throughout the year volunteering alongside fellow Miller APSO members.
Oliver, president of the Miller APSO chapter for 2025 and 2026, said members have been busy with a wide range of holiday projects.
The group supplied food for the annual Tri-County Christmas Party at the Jasper Civic Center on Dec. 13, where five Miller APSO volunteers helped serve food and drinks and cleaned. The chapter also sponsored a Christmas tree on the Walker County Courthouse Square to honor Hope for Women, a nonprofit that supports women in need. Rachel Edgil, Candace Kilpatrick, Michele Willoughby and Oliver decorated the tree, while other volunteers added festive touches to a tree at West Jefferson Town Hall for the Festival of Lights.
On Dec. 15, Miller APSO members filled more than 350 gift bags for six senior centers throughout Walker County and delivered 20 meals to one senior center. Items donated included hygiene items, notebooks, pens and crossword puzzles. With funds raised through the chapter’s annual golf tournament and clay-shoot fundraiser, volunteers shopped for Christmas gifts more than 250 children, which included Walker County’s Department of Human Resources and Salvation Army, and West Jefferson Elementary and Adamsville Elementary schools. Members also bought presents for 70 children in the Angel program at Garrett’s Place in Bessemer.
“I love giving back,” said Oliver, who has served in APSO for 18 years. “People need our help now more than ever. You never know what can happen in life – it could be me or my family that needs help from a nonprofit or some organization. Why not give back when you can?
“Many times, I realize that when we are giving, that’s all many people are getting at the holidays,” he said. “Just seeing people’s faces, it makes me feel so happy and blessed, and I am glad our members in Miller APSO are blessed and able to help others.”
Serving up holiday cheer, one meal at a time
Providing meals during the holidays is one of the most meaningful ways APSO members give back to their communities. For APSO volunteers, supplying those meals is about more than food — it’s about sharing kindness and connection, and helping families across Alabama to celebrate together.
APSO board members have led the charge in fighting hunger this season. Fourteen APSO leaders recently collected and packaged 495 pounds of food, which they delivered to the Elmore County Food Pantry.
In time for Thanksgiving, Southern Division APSO members partnered Nov. 20 with the Heart of Alabama Food Bank in Montgomery to hand out 200 turkeys and other groceries at the Eleven86 Food Pantry.
When Bertha’s Outreach Services Community asked for help, Magic City APSO members quickly stepped up. As part of a food drive, the group collected warm clothing — hats, gloves, socks and blankets — along with hygiene products, bed pads and diabetic socks for clients. Jasmine Sledge chaired the project, helping coordinate the collection and delivery of supplies.
Magic City APSO helped sort food at Grace Klein Community Food Bank, which rescues more than 100,000 pounds of food and feeds more than 10,000 people each month across Birmingham.
Volunteers from Southeast/Farley APSO shopped for food and helped load it into clients’ vehicles at the Family Service Center of Barbour County. (contributed)
A food drive is also underway at Alabama Power’s Corporate Headquarters in Birmingham, where Magic City APSO members are contributing. Marcus Ramsey chaired another effort with the First Baptist Alabaster Food Ministry, which has served Shelby County residents for more than 20 years. Magic City APSO volunteers helped unload food trucks and load groceries into vehicles of families in need.
On Nov. 21, Eastern APSO volunteers supported MANNA in Gadsden by delivering meals to elderly, special-needs and homebound residents in Etowah County.
On Nov. 26, Eastern APSO partnered with the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE) to deliver meals to families in need across Talladega and Coosa counties. Volunteers delivered around 400 meals, including 200 distributed through Alabama Power’s Oak Grove Office. The chapter also donated to SAFE’s Heart Christmas Drive.
The chapter also partnered with the Jacksonville Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) Food Bank, which assists low- and no-income individuals in the Jacksonville community. Members provided the food bank with ready-to-prepare meals for those in need.
Volunteers from Southeast/Farley APSO helped the Family Service Center of Barbour County in Eufaula stock shelves at the nonprofit food pantry and load food into families’ vehicles. They also donated turkeys, stuffing, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and other items to support the Children and Family Connection of Russell County’s Thanksgiving box distribution, providing meals for around 30 families during the holidays.
For about six years, Mobile APSO has provided Thanksgiving hams and turkeys to clients served by Penelope House and residents of six transitional living apartments.
“They give us enough to store in our freezer, so when the Christmas holidays arrive, we have food for the shelter then, too,” said Penelope House Executive Director Tonie Ann Torrans. “It’s difficult to be in the shelter during the holidays, so the donations from Mobile APSO help us make the season as special as possible.”
Magic City APSO makes the holidays sparkle
Magic City volunteers took part in an evening of shopping Nov. 13 for children in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Project chair Dylan Jordan said more than 70 volunteers participated. Dual shopping events were held at Walmart stores in Birmingham and Gardendale.
The chapter raised funds for the gifts through Power Delivery’s annual golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley and the Selwood Farm clay shoot in Sylacauga.
From Dec. 1-13, Magic City’s Darlena Battle led a project to help the Rebirth Community Corp host its annual shopping event for underserved residents and former offenders. The organization receives donated items from Christian Service Mission, which volunteers sort and organize into categories for the shopping experience. On Dec. 11, Hunter Pabalate led an effort for Heidi’s Kids Annual Toy Drive, where company volunteers sorted toys for underserved children in inner-city Birmingham. Heidi’s Kids works with school counselors to identify children in need.
Magic City APSO members in the Shelby County subchapter lent a hand – and a paw – this holiday season to Love, Hope and Paws Dog Rescue. In December, Jordan Locke chaired a fundraiser for the Chelsea‑based group, which rescues dogs and helps find them loving homes. Ginger Wilson, owner and director of Love, Hope and Paws Dog Rescue, is grateful for APSO’s support in giving dogs a second chance. Since opening in 2020, the rescue has helped more than 800 dogs through adoption and pet‑retention assistance.
“We’re always in need of more foster families, donations and adoptive homes to help us continue this mission,” Wilson said.
Barry APSO canvasses community to assist at holidays
Making the holidays special is something Barry APSO members do best, according to Rachel Webb, founder and executive director of Fostering Together Gulf Coast.
Barry APSO members provided Christmas gifts for foster families served by the nonprofit Fostering Together Gulf Coast. (Contributed)
Webb said Barry APSO has gone above and beyond to help her organization brighten the season for foster families. She recalled one time when volunteers showed up with Christmas gifts for families and noticed the gift room needed a little holiday cheer. The team said, “We can help you with that,” and bought decorations, transforming the space with ornaments and bows.
In November, Barry APSO members shopped for foster children served by the Baldwin and Mobile County DHRs, helping make sure every child had something special waiting under the tree.
On Christmas Eve, Stacy Simmons and her team of “merry elves” will deliver a warm holiday feast — turkey and all the fixings — to underserved residents throughout greater Mobile. The day starts early, with volunteers gathering at 8 a.m. to pick up food at Publix’s Sunset Point location in Mobile, whereafter they begin deliveries that bring smiles and full plates to families across the area.
Simmons and her team plan to keep the tradition going for years to come. The Barry training coordinator loves taking part in this project, which has been ongoing for more than 35 years.
“It’s such a heartwarming feeling to have such a large group of volunteers come out and assist with deliveries because I know they’re taking away from time they could be spending with their families or finishing holiday errands,” Simmons said. “And the recipients are always so gracious and appreciative; they usually leave sweet voicemails and send thank-you cards to us. Sometimes, they may share what’s going on in their lives, and I am beyond blessed for these meals and the smiles of our volunteers to be a bright spot for them.”
RELATED: Alabama Power volunteers help make holidays happier for foster families
Gaston APSO makes Christmas Wish lists come true
On Dec. 9, Gaston APSO’s group of merry shoppers filled the aisles at Walmart in Sylacauga, searching for gifts to brighten the holidays for local children. The 25-member team — including spouses and children — filled shopping carts at Walmart in search of the perfect outfits, shoes and toys. The chapter raised money for its Christmas Wish shopping event through its annual golf tournament and clay shoot. Proceeds from the golf tournament help Gaston APSO buy gifts for about 200 children sponsored by several organizations, including DHRs in Chilton, Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties.
Southeast/Farley APSO and Energizers show holiday spirit
Southeast/Farley APSO volunteers took on a variety of holiday projects, including a “Warmth for All” clothing drive. They partnered with Living Hope Community Outreach Center in Dothan to collect and donate coats, blankets and other winter essentials. APSO members also shopped for children served by the Dothan DHR.
The Southeast Division Energizers held its fourth quarter meeting Dec. 4, during which the chapter gave monetary donations to nine charities in the Wiregrass service area.
Additionally, attendees donated adult diapers and products and presented them to the SARCOA agency, which helps supply the needs of the elderly and disabled. The chapter collected 34 boxes of diapers and 29 packs of wipes in time to help SARCOA fill wish lists for its Santa for Seniors project.
Western APSO ensures schoolchildren are fed during holidays
In November, Rhonda Jones chaired a project to support schoolchildren through Backyard Blessings, with Western APSO volunteers lending a hand to pack 777 bags of food. The bags went home with underserved students at Jasper and Walker County schools to help ensure they didn’t miss a meal during the holidays. Many of those children typically receive free breakfast and lunch during the school week.
Mobile APSO and Energizers bless southwest Alabama residents
Mobile APSO volunteers took on more than 30 charitable projects across southwest Alabama region during the holiday season, chapter president Chris Mayfield said.
“With the help of my colleagues at Alabama Power, we were blessed to have two successful fundraisers this year. The proceeds went toward Christmas gifts for kids in need, with a portion set aside for the William Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette,” Mayfield said. “We helped those in need — from children to senior citizens who may need assistance with a holiday meal.”
Among the many projects this holiday season, Mobile APSO members volunteered their time gathering toys and meals for those in need. They purchased clothes and toys for numerous Salvation Army Angels and bought bicycles for underserved children supported by New Creation Ministries, a charity formed to assist Bayou La Batre after Hurricane Katrina.
The chapter also provided toys and clothes for families at Penelope House and delivered a check to Pine Hill Mission Food Bank and Outreach, which serves senior citizens and low-income families.
The Regional Child Advocacy Center in Mobile received holiday gifts for its clients. Executive Director Mary English said, “Support like this reminds us that our community is filled with people and companies who truly care. We are grateful for partners who help us show children they matter.”
Mayfield, who has served in APSO for three years, said, “It’s a privilege to give back and share holiday joy with families during this special time of year. We’re blessed to work for a great company and to have the ability to serve others. For me, it’s about helping those in less fortunate situations and making sure our community is a better place today than it was yesterday.”
