LONGVIEW, TEXAS, March 26, 2020 – The American Electric Power Foundation has announced $42,000 in emergency funding for an East Texas nonprofit impacted by COVID-19 in Southwestern Electric Power Co’s (SWEPCO) service area.  

The Meals on Wheels Ministry brings home-delivered meals to more than 2,500 homebound seniors in six counties. Many of their volunteer drivers are over the age of 60, which puts them at a higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19.  As a result, the organization is seeking to pay drivers and ensure clients continue to receive meals. Grant dollars would assist with that new expense. In addition, it would fund alternative shelf stable meals for clients in the event that services must be limited.

The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and its utility operating units, including SWEPCO.

“We are pleased to present these agencies with additional funding on behalf of the AEP Foundation as they provide vital services to our community during this extraordinary time of need,” said Mark Robinson, SWEPCO External Affairs manager in Longview. “We want to ensure that the programs serving our community’s most vulnerable residents can continue and expand.”

The AEP Foundation recently approved $1.5 million in emergency funds in response to COVID-19 to support basic human needs – such as food and shelter – across AEP’s service area.

The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.

The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger

The AEP Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio.