Coast Division employees distribute fans to needy seniors
On the same day members of the Mississippi Power Coast Division customer value committee delivered electric fans to the Harrison County Senior Center, Jamie Daniels received a note from director Mag Holland that started with a capital-letter, double exclamation point, “THANK YOU!!”
“We just sent one fan out to a bed-bound veteran,” Holland’s note continued. “He has a window (AC) unit, but the fan will cool things off a little more. Thanks again.”
Messages like that make all the work the employees do to purchase and collect fans for seniors worthwhile.
This is the second year this group organized a drive to collect fans for needy seniors. Last year, they collected 26 fans but this year, they gathered 46.
The fans were delivered to the Harrison County Senior Center and the Ferris B. O’Neal Senior Center in Wiggins for distribution to seniors the center identified as in need.
“Both of the senior centers help seniors with no air conditioning by providing them with transportation to a center with air conditioning from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” said Daniels, a market specialist in the Biloxi Customer Service Office and chair of the customer value committee. “However after 5, they have to go home and we all know how hot it still is here after 5 p.m. They put the fans in the windows for the customers, so they can have a little relief at night.”
Wiggins Area Manager Arnie Williams helped deliver the fans to the Ferris B. O’Neal Senior Center.
“We all face challenging times, whether personal or economically,” he said. “Often when these challenges come, they have an even greater impact on our seniors. Being mindful of hotter temperatures this time of year, our employees purchased and collected fans to help seniors beat the heat.”
Williams said energy-saving tips were also shared like closing the blinds, doing laundry in the early or latter parts of the day, turning off lights and using ceiling fans.
“We are so proud to be able to help people in need,” Daniels said. “We almost doubled the number of fans we collected in one year, so we appreciate all of the support and participation in the Coast Division.”
Other members of the customer value committee include co-chair Chris Boston, Rose Ann Pegoda, Laura Peters, Claudia Bourgeois, Shannon Braly, Lauren Necaise, Shawn Gremillion, Ann Jackson, Donna Pierce, Nathan Rushing and Kevin Davis.
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