Mississippi Power Joins the Movement to Help People Living with Multiple Sclerosis

The Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society and Mississippi Power teamed up Nov. 20 to help two Gulf Coast families affected by multiple sclerosis get their homes ready for the holidays.

“Helping people is what Mississippi Power Community Connection group is all about,” said company spokesperson Bill Snyder. “Our employees support charitable organizations throughout the year, but making a direct difference in the lives of families in need – like with the MS Society’s Day of Service – is extra special to us.”

Volunteers from Mississippi Power, the Gulf Coast MS Society and the National MS Society visited homes in Ocean Springs and Gulfport to assist with various household chores including yard work, small repairs, painting, cleaning and organizing.

“We’ve enjoyed giving back to the community,” said Sheila Yost, Vice President of the Coast’s M.S. Society. “Having M.S. myself, I know firsthand how tough it can be. This work will help ease some of the burden for these families and illustrate what a tremendous impact we can have when we work together as a community.”

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.   Symptoms range from reduced or lost mobility to numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.1 million worldwide.

That’s why Service Day was important to Gulfport resident Joyce Harper, who’s the caregiver for her daughter who’s bedridden dues to M.S.

Harper’s back deck got re-stained and her garage got a new coat of paint thanks to the hard work of several volunteers.

“All this help is wonderful,” Harper said. “I can’t wait to spend time on my deck.”