December 15, 2020
Pandemic Perseverance
The AEP volunteer spirit is alive and well, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees from across the system applied for and received Making a Difference grants to support local nonprofit organizations in their communities.
From Tulsa, Okla., to Pikeville, Ky., and points between, 47 organizations received up to $300 from AEP to support people in need in their communities. Employees worked with the charitable groups to conduct virtual or COVID-safe food and clothing drives, beautification projects and more.
Five employees at DC Cook Nuclear Plant combined Nuclear Science Week with Making a Difference by recording themselves reading STEM-themed books for a South Haven Public School kindergarten class. They used the Making a Difference grant to purchase the books for the students and posted the videos to the Cook Plant Facebook.
In San Angelo, Texas, Gricelda Calzada, manager, External Affairs, and her team used the $300 Making a Difference grant to support Meals for the Elderly. Two retired employees, one contractor and five full time AEP Texas employees, along with an employee’s spouse, deliver approximately 22 meals each week. “Volunteering for Meals for the Elderly is essential because without volunteers like us, these homebound elderly would not be able to get a hot meal each day,” Calzada said.
Making a Difference Grant project highlights:
AEP Corporate and AEP Ohio
Girl Scouts RFSU – prepare outdoor skills training kits for Girl Scouts in grades 6-12
Hilliard Ohio Soccer Association – provide soccer equipment for disadvantaged families
Mid-Ohio Food Collective – purchase and package items for the foodbank
Nisonger Early Learning Program – adapt two-seat power wheels for children receiving therapy
Pioneer School – provide alternative life skills job-training materials
Serving Our Neighbors – prepare “grab and go” meal kits for children K-12
Star House – provide personal hygiene items to homeless youth ages 14-24
Sufficient Grace - provide healthy meals for undernourished schoolchildren
YWCA Family Center – host a luncheon for families and assist with the purchase of COVID supplies
AEP Texas
Feeding CASA, Corpus Christi - support virtual lunch for youth and volunteers
Meals for the Elderly – deliver nutritious meals to homebound elderly in San Angelo
Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend – provide diapers, formula and other necessities for mothers and children
Salvation Army, Corpus Christi – feed the homeless through monthly street outreach program
Appalachian Power
Virginia
American Heart Association – support research and provide information to the public
Grace Network of Martinsville-Henry County – support fundraiser for holiday meals and gifts
West Virginia
United Way of Upper Ohio Valley – support the 2020 United Way campaign
Harmony House – provide winter clothing items
Heart & Hand of South Charleston – provide food, clothing, medical equipment and weekend food bags for middle school students and senior citizens
John Marshall High School – help students acquire items they are unable to afford
Marshall County Animal rescue League – purchase items on the shelter’s wish list and prepare a
Marshall County Family Resource Network – purchase and distribute personal hygiene items to community teens
Moundville Middle School – purchase an adaptive bike for special needs children’s physical education program
Southwestern Virginia Action for Youth – hold a COVID-safe mobile Halloween Trunk or Treat
Tug Valley Recovery Shelter – create an Amazon wish list for shelter residents
Washington Lands Elementary School – support Project Lead the Way to encourage science education
Youth Services System, Inc. – Collect and deliver Christmas gifts for youth in the system’s care
Indiana Michigan Power
South Haven Public School – provide outreach to local elementary kindergarten class via video STEM books read and recorded by DC Cook Nuclear plant employees
United Way of Southwest Michigan – assemble senior personal care kits for the fall/winter months
Kentucky Power
East Kentucky Dream Center, Inc. – prepare “to go” lunch boxes for clients
PSO
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – support activities to provide food, clothing, medicine, etc., for people in need
Comfort Closets – support the backpack program to meet a variety of student needs from school supplies to food to clothing and hygiene items
Cummings Family Ministry – support a canned food drive
Grand Lake Community Ministry, Inc. – support activities for vulnerable people on the South Side of Grand Lake, OK.
Indian health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, Inc. – assist Native American children and their families with food, clothing and household items
Iron Gate Trust – purchase warm clothes and food for Iron Gate guests
Light of Hope, Inc. – support a fresh food distribution event
Parent Child Center of Tulsa, Inc. – build a play area at the facility
Sigma Oklahoma Foundation – support youth mentoring with STEM education materials and activities
The Bridges Foundation – support individuals with developmental disabilities with donations for adaptive equipment and other needs
Tulsa Memorial Junior High School – collect and donate school supplies for teachers and students to support remote learning
Vinita Day Center – purchase paint and other supplies to enhance the facility
SWEPCO
Arkansas
Hope Distributors – purchase bulk non-perishable food items for distribution to local food banks
Louisiana
Learning Ladder Academy – purchase a laptop/Chromebook to facilitate E-learning
Right to Play, Inc. – maintain and beautify the park with new plants and fresh mulch and making repairs as necessary
Texas
City of Waskom – purchase a video camera for use by park staff
Heartisans – repair and renovate for facility expansion
Senior Citizens of Texarkana – purchase ice chests to hold and distribute meals to the elderly
2020 Making a Difference Grants
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