Amid a historic crisis impacting our nation, the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation, on behalf of Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), is donating $240,000 across I&M's service territory.
"During this pandemic, we are also seeing what makes us all proud of our Nation, our State and of our local communities - coming together and helping our neighbors,” said Toby Thomas, I&M President and Chief Operating Officer. “With the AEP Foundation grant I&M is able to help provide for the communities we serve, live and work in by ensuring basic needs are met so we can focus on what’s important during this challenging time – staying safe and healthy.”
The funds will support basic human needs and help address potential hardships our customers and our communities could face amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Grants have been dispersed across our service area in Indiana and Michigan to help organizations meet increasing needs around food, shelter and housing assistance.
Emergency funds are being donated to the following organizations serving customers in all of I&M’s service areas:
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$10,000 donated to The Community Harvest Food Bank based in Fort Wayne and serving Northeast Indiana.
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$50,000 donated to Second Harvest Food Bank based in Muncie and serving East Central Indiana.
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$50,000 donated to The Food Bank of Northern Indiana based in South Bend and serving six counties in Northern Indiana.
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$15,000 donated to Feeding America West Michigan based in Comstock Park, MI and serving all of Southwest Michigan.
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$25,000 donated to The Southwestern Michigan Cares Fund based in Berrien County and partnering with the United Way of Southwest Michigan.
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$15,000 donated to The North Spencer Community Action Center based in Dale, Ind., and serving Spencer County.
In total, the AEP Foundation is donating $1.5 million to communities served by AEP in eleven states.