Recognizing a growing community need and then doing something about it.

That type of behavior has become habit forming for many SWEPCO employees at the Wilkes Power Plant near the town of Avinger, Texas.

"It's awesome," began Wilkes Administrative Senior Alice Cogburn when asked about what led up to a recent food drive at the plant benefiting the Avinger Community Food Pantry.

She explained, through the years, workers at Wilkes have come to know many in the small Avinger community, and that includes many of their ongoing needs.

Over the last few years, Alice helped lead a holiday effort, adopting 'Christmas Angels' and raising thousands of dollars for presents for children who may not otherwise receive one on Christmas morning due to financial reasons. 

And that opened her eyes to other needs in the community.

"This is a very small school district, maybe 125 students in the entire school," Alice noted, leading many at Wilkes to also participate in a summer school supply drive for the students.

But for the 35 or so employees at Wilkes, their efforts did not stop in the classroom or under the Christmas tree. They decided they wanted to help these families where it is needed the most - in their kitchen pantries at home.

Alice said she placed collection boxes in the Wilkes' lobby, emailed reminders to employees, and made mention of their food drive efforts during morning calls. And by the time their grassroots effort was over, employees had packed four large boxes with non-perishable food items to help local families in need of a hand up.

"It makes me feel really good to work with such a team in this community we operate in," Alice proudly added.