More than 100 Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) volunteers are partnering with Alabama-based Cheeriodicals to help over 500 adults and children in need across the state.  

Members from each APSO chapter across Alabama gathered Thursday, Feb. 22, to assemble over 500 Cheeriodicals care boxes. The boxes were filled with items tailored to meet the individual recipients’ needs.

The boxes are being delivered to 11 nonprofit organizations across the state and will benefit a range of recipients, from infants to the elderly.

“This is such an exciting project for a number of reasons,” said Myla Calhoun, vice president of Alabama Power Charitable Giving. “Not only are we able to bring the APSO chapters together to participate in a large-scale project that will touch the lives of 500 individuals, we’re able to work with a company that’s based right here in Alabama. That’s pretty special.”

APSO is a nonprofit organization whose membership includes 5,500 Alabama Power, Southern Company and Southern Nuclear employees and family members who live in Alabama. Members typically contribute more than 40,000 volunteer hours in Alabama communities each year. APSO members support their charitable initiatives through donations and fundraising events. 

Cheeriodicals is a corporate team-building and corporate-gifting company founded in Birmingham. It conducts philanthropic team-building events “that matter” by helping corporate partners generate lasting impact in their communities. The charitable events primarily benefit children’s and veterans hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses across the United States and Canada.

Cheeriodicals also provides opportunities for corporate clients to support communities through a variety of “cheer up” gifting options. In 2014, Cheeriodicals was among six Alabama startup companies selected as Alabama Launchpad winners.

“Seven years ago, we launched Cheeriodicals to spread cheer to hospital patients,” said Gary Parisher, president of Cheeriodicals. “Through our corporate team-building events, we have delivered more than 50,000 Cheeriodicals. This new partnership with APSO allows us to combine our efforts with an organization that appreciates the power of giving back and which makes a measurable impact throughout our state. Nothing we do could make us happier than lighting up Alabama with so many smiles.”

Also supporting the initiative is Two Men and a Truck of Birmingham, which will deliver care boxes in the Birmingham area free of charge. 

Here are the nonprofits around the state that will receive Cheeriodicals care boxes for their clients:

• ARC of South Talladega County
• BigHouse Foundation, Opelika
• Boys & Girls Club of Hueytown
• Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home, Pell City
• Crowne Health Care of Eufaula
• Hand in Hand Early Learning Program, Birmingham
• Oneonta Senior Center
• Ronald McDonald House Charities, Alabama
• Uniontown Cares
• USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Mobile
• William F. Green State Veterans Home, Bay Minette