Gulf Power Company honored Okaloosa County-area community service groups with Power of Service awards in Fort Walton Beach Thursday night. The Power of Service awards recognize groups that continue Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of helping others.

S4P Synergy of Fort Walton Beach and the Carver-Hill Museum from Crestview each were recognized for their service and awarded $2,500 to help continue their community outreach.

“The Power of Service award is a way to honor these groups who go above and beyond to improve the lives of others and help strengthen our communities,” said Bentina Terry, Gulf Power VP of External Affairs and Corporate Services. “Organizations like these need and deserve the community’s support to help them continue to improve our community.”

S4P Synergy creates a collaborative partnership between churches, businesses and government entities to reinvigorate low-income and minority communities.

Working with other area agencies, S4P Synergy provides emergency assistance for utilities, rent, food, prescription medication, funerals and other legitimate emergencies. S4P also sponsors a Life Enrichment Meal Program and provides program and community-based education opportunities to eliminate poverty and welfare.

Carver-Hill Museum, located in Crestview, honors the Carver-Hill School and chronicles the history of the local African-American community.

The only one of its kind in Okaloosa County, Carver-Hill Museum emphasizes black history and serves as an archive for artifacts related to Carver-Hill School, such as photos, yearbooks and sports memorabilia. It contains historical documents of local families and the community and serves as a site for many community events for the city.