Warming Up Those in Need
November 25, 2021
FirstEnergy employees made sure those in need have warm clothing and other critical items for the upcoming winter through our Winter Warm-Up: Heads, Hands and Feet initiative.
The Employee Business Resource Group Community Involvement Council (EBRG CIC) worked with local nonprofit organizations to hold this companywide program. Our EBRG chapters identified their area’s nonprofit organizations for the donations and the project took off.
“We are more than pleased with the outcome of the Winter Warm-Up. Nearly 1,800 items were donated – and some areas collected coats, blankets and more,” said Kristene Hawk, Human Resources representative V, and EBRG lead. “This was the council’s first collaborative effort for a drive of this type. It warms our hearts to know we were able to support our neighbors in need this winter.”
Here are a few examples from our Winter Warm-Up: Heads, Hands and Feet drive:
Akron
The Access Women’s Shelter and the Haven of Rest benefitted from our Warm-Up drive. At the shelter with donations is Kathy Parker, advanced Customer Service associate, and member of our Family Network EBRG (r.) with the shelter’s Jessica Nodo. MOSaic Ohio contributed several bags of clothing to Haven of Rest and to Family Promise Homeless Shelter.
CEI/Ohio Edison
Our Veterans & Allies – Ohio EBRG selected the VA Medical Center in Cleveland for its Warm-Up donations. Collection sites were established at six of our larger service centers in the Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company (CEI) territory. The group also provided a direct ship option. More than 80 coats and two large boxes of socks, T-shirts, sweatshirts and other miscellaneous clothing were collected.
On donation day: Tiffanne Cowan, manager, Regulated Settlements (r.), with Courtney and June from the Cleveland VA Medical Center.
(l.) The Ohio chapter of Women in Leadership and CEI employees collected socks, gloves and hats for the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. (r.) Also on hand for donation day were, l.-r.: Jesse LaFromboise, general manager, Regional Operations Services (Ohio Edison) and Niketas “Nick” Katsaros, consultant, Regional External Affairs. Jesse and Nick are both based at the Elyria Service Center. A special thank you to Nick and his family for their donation of more than 80 coats.
JCP&L
Thanks to the generosity of our employees and the local chapters of Veterans & Allies, Women in Leadership and MOSaic EBRGs, two organizations received generous donations totaling 930 items.
The Lyons Veterans Hospital received various items through Project Hope, which provides a support system for veterans and their families who need help during and after their transition from military to civilian life. A special thanks to employees at the Boonton and Summit Line shops!
180 Turning Lives Around in Hazlet empowers survivors and families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault to find the courage and strength to turn their lives around. The organization received hats, socks, gloves and T-shirts.
Jo Anne Hands, Human Resources representative IV, with some of the donated items.
Met-Ed
New Journey Community Outreach Inc. received three boxes of hats, gloves and socks – thanks to the MOSaic and Women in Leadership chapters of SW Pennsylvania, Helping Women Grow – Reading and employees in the Met-Ed service area. New Journey provides a daily soup kitchen and a weekly food pantry and clothing center for individuals and families in need in the Reading community.
Pictured with a few of the donated items is Marnell McCarthy, Customer Accounts specialist IV, and New Journey board president. Not pictured are Deborah Adie, supervisor, Customer Contact Center; Rhonda Grasty, advanced business analyst; and Cheryl Teel, supervisor, Customer Contact Center.
Mon Power
Our Helping Women Grow – Fairmont chapter collected two shopping bags of hats, gloves and socks for The Soup Opera food distribution center.
Potomac Edison
MOSaic – Potomac Edison, along with employees at the Williamsport and Frederick service centers, collected children’s hats, gloves, socks and packages of underwear to benefit Head Start of Washington County.
Toledo Edison
Employees and the Ohio chapter of Women in Leadership collected hats, gloves and socks, along with hygiene items and snacks for Backpacks for Humans. The organization’s mission is to provide life basics to people living on the streets or in poverty.
L.-r.: Michelle Marks and Annette Carulli from Backpacks for Humans are grateful for our donations.
West Penn Power
Greensburg Corporate Headquarters employees collected blankets, socks, hats, scarves, gloves and toiletries. The items were donated to the local American Red Cross and Norwin Elks Lodge veterans.
