SANTA’S HELPERS BRIGHTEN CHRISTMAS FOR 100 LOCAL KIDS

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PHOTO CAPTION: PowerSouth employee Dennis O’Neal admires a truckload of donated gifts contributed to Andalusia’s Community Christmas program.

ANDALUSIA, ALA.– Elves aren’t Santa’s only helpers at Christmastime.

For the past nine years, PowerSouth employees acted as Santa’s right hand in the local area, providing toys, clothing, diapers and other gifts through the Community Christmas program. In 2011, PowerSouth sponsored 100 children through Community Christmas, which allows qualifying families to receive assistance providing gifts for their children through the help of anonymous donors.

“We are glad for the opportunity to help struggling families in our community,” said Larry Avery, PowerSouth Vice President of Power Delivery and a Community Christmas program founder. “If we can give of ourselves to make just one child’s Christmas merrier, how could we not support this program?”

According to Andalusia Community Christmas officials, some 560 children were sponsored this year in Andalusia and surrounding communities. Due to economic struggles affecting many throughout the area, the assistance is well received by the families involved.

“I talked with a father who picked up two of his three packages,” said Mattie Freeney, PowerSouth Analyst in Transmission and Distribution Construction. “When I asked if he realized he didn’t get all his packages, he replied, ‘I was so happy to get gifts for two of my children that I didn’t ask any questions. I just appreciated what I did get!’ The joy of the children and the appreciation of the parents places a special value on the hours the community spends putting the event together.”

Freeney serves on the Community Christmas Board and became directly involved through the Civitan Club. She volunteered many hours for the 2011 event.

“Community Christmas has such a great impact,” she said. “It requires many hours of preparation, a lot of work and a lot of people, but seeing the kids’ faces makes it all worthwhile.” 

Andalusia Community Christmas, Inc., is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to needy children between 2 and12 years old for families in the Andalusia, Red Level, Pleasant Home and Straughn school districts.

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About PowerSouth:

PowerSouth serves the wholesale energy needs of 16 electric cooperatives and four municipal electric systems in Alabama and northwest Florida, with 800,000 consumers in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties. PowerSouth is dedicated to providing reliable energy at the lowest possible cost to its members.

 

 

PowerSouth is an EEO and AAP employer

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