Volunteering

The Suzanne Gresham Center, a division of Meridian Health Services, helps some of our most vulnerable members of society, including expecting mothers struggling with addiction and victims of child abuse and molestation. “Holidays at Gresham” is one more way in which they give back, putting together a drive-thru light exhibit to spread cheer and brighten the holiday season for their clients and the community. According to their website, “the holidays are about kids, lights and magical scenes… and it’s been said that you cannot light another’s path without brightening your own.” It’s a worthy cause we’re proud to help support.

In addition to being the presenting sponsor, we put elbow grease into this year’s display with a volunteer rush that accomplished weeks’ worth of work in one day. Rob Keisling, Community Affairs Manager, and Scott Bennett, Manager Distribution System, organized a group of employees from distribution, MRO, station, transmission and more to come together for our community.

Each task started with a safety brief and crews brought their expertise to bear, going so far as calling in additional trucks (such as the 150’ transmission bucket) to make sure the job was done safely and efficiently the first time. Multiple crews also stayed late in the cold, misty weather to ensure their tasks were finished.

This is the largest cardboard boat race in the Midwest and the money raised will go towards helping several community partners including the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County and the American Red Cross.

This year’s race was at the LaSalle Bristol Corporate pond in Elkhart. 53 boats competed in several heats with the winning vessel advancing to the championship race. "The Electron" finished in third place.

The event combined the Health and Fun Fair with a Ducky Derby Race. Approximately 2,500 people came through the event in just three hours.

For the first time, we were the presenting sponsor of Safety Town. It was a partnership with local police and fire departments. There was a miniature version of the city of Muncie. Kids cruised through Safety Town on tricycles and learned about traffic safety, internet safety, financial wellness and safe sleep.

For weeks prior to the event, businesses around Muncie were given an inflatable duck to sit outside their offices and businesses. We won best dressed for “Ducky McWatts.” Employees from all departments at the service center created a hard hat and safety glasses for Ducky.

It was a beautiful day as our employees also competed in the Ducky Derby Race Against Child Abuse.

Fam Fest raises awareness for the Suzanne Gresham Center – which helps improves the lives of children and families through counseling, family assistance, medical care and child abuse/recovery.

The annual visit is part of a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs to support education in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Safety – not just around electricity but in all facets of life – is a major theme.

Boys & Girls Clubs participants visit the Fort Wayne training facility, to learn about safety as well as careers in the energy industry, the role of line mechanics and more. Highlights of the hands-on activity include walking on the slip simulator, which offers the opportunity to learn best ways to safely walk on ice; going up in a bucket truck; and learning how to use line mechanics' equipment.

"Hands-on learning experiences combined with career opportunities and STEM programs with great partners like Indiana Michigan Power provide our children a well-rounded experience," said Debby Stellwagen, Director of Development and Community Relations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne. "The kids really enjoy experiences which reinforce what they learn. The I&M partnership is part of our new SPARK (Special Pathways for At Risk Kids) program to expose our members to the many job and career options available after graduation."

"This program offers a fun way for students at an impressionable age to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math," said Kim Sabrosky, our Director of External Affairs. "As students develop their focus of interests, we want them to know about the many exciting career possibilities in energy and other STEM fields. And we emphasize how important it is to be aware of safety in all that they do."

We participated in Greater Fort Wayne Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build project recently, volunteering to help build two homes.

Our team was among 450 women who are building homes in Fuller’s Landing on West Cook Road, where our volunteers have previously volunteered.

Team members performed various tasks, including working on a front porch, preparing exterior walls for siding and hanging siding, installing hurricane clips, removing bottom framing on doors and closets with a reciprocating saw, planting bushes and mulching.

Habitat’s goal is to eliminate substandard housing. To qualify for a Habitat home, families take personal finance classes and contribute “sweat equity” by volunteering at the organization’s ReStore and helping build Habitat homes, including their own. The process takes about three years, and as homebuyers, they make interest-free mortgage payments.

Last fall, employees helped build Habitat homes in the South Bend area.

“Volunteering with co-workers to build homes for people who might not otherwise afford them is truly a rewarding experience,” said Kim Sabrosky, Director of External Affairs. “We enjoyed working together and watching these homes come closer to completion.”