Gulfport, Miss. – To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mississippi Power has organized a number of community events for its employees to volunteer throughout the company’s service territory.

In Meridian, Mississippi Power partnered with representatives from the City of Meridian for a beautification effort at Velma Young Park today. Volunteers will spend the day assisting with litter pick-up, lawn care and painting. On Monday, Jan. 20, volunteers will act as monitors and escorts for the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade.

“Organizers are anticipating the largest number of entrants ever and one of the largest crowds and sought our assistance with parade line-up, flow and public safety during the event,” District Manager Verdell Hawkins said. “It is an honor to help facilitate the celebration to commemorate such an important individual in our nation’s history.”

On the coast, three separate service events will take place on Monday, Jan. 20. In Biloxi, volunteers will assist with everything from trimming bushes and making flower beds to painting and pressure washing at the office of Visions of Hope, Inc. One of the company’s employees, Maintenance Specialist Gary Gray, was instrumental in helping found Visions of Hope in 1998.

“The non-profit’s mission is to provide safe, permanent, affordable housing and security from displacement for low to moderate-income residents,” Gray said. “The organization strives to build strong and stable communities through the empowerment of its residents by offering access to educational opportunities, asset development, leadership training and healthcare.”

In Wiggins, Reynolds Field was recently vandalized and on Monday, volunteers will help do their part to bring the park back to its original condition by washing off graffiti, painting restrooms and replacing broken items in the restrooms.

“Reynolds Field is one of the nicer parks in our area and we want to do our part on this special day to help keep it that way,” District Manager Ike Harbuck said.

In Ocean Springs, volunteers will help build six raised-bed vegetable gardens for the Jackson County Civic Action agency’s Head Start campus.

“We chose this unique project to ensure the Head Start students have the ability to learn hands-on about gardening techniques and healthy eating habits at an early age so they can benefit and spread the word to their friends and family members,” District Manager Brad Bradford said.

Pictures of the events will be posted on the company’s Twitter and Facebook throughout the day.

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 186,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Recognized throughout the utility industry for excellence in storm restoration and recovery efforts, Mississippi Power is the 2013 winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Assistance Award. Visit our website at www.mississippipower.com, Follow us on Twitter, or Like us on Facebook.

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