Last week, Alabama Power Community Relations Manager Karen Burklew was on hand to present Bibb County Sav-a-Life with a $10,000 Efficiency Forward grant from the Alabama Business Charitable (ABC) Trust Fund. The Efficiency Forward program provides grants to nonprofits to make energy efficiency improvements to their facilities, which can help provide cost savings that nonprofits can pass on in services to their clients. Bibb County Sav-a-Life will use the funds to replace and insulate windows, add insulation to the roof of the building and change out fluorescent light bulbs to LED bulbs throughout the office.
The ABC Trust Fund was created in 1992 by Alabama Power to partner with agencies to help low-income families pay their energy bills. It also supports programs that promote energy efficiency for nonprofits and low-income individuals and families. More info can be found on the ABC Trust Fund website: powerofgood.com.
Melissa Thompson, Executive Director of Bibb County Sav-A-Life told The Bibb Voice that her organization is also known as Bibb Family Connections and Pregnancy Resource. They are located at 48 University Way in Brent, AL. The organization offers the community and surrounding areas free pregnancy tests, free parenting classes and referrals to other resources available in the area.
Through the parenting classes, women who are pregnant and/or have children under the age of two can earn “Baby Bucks” that can be used to purchase items from the baby boutique. The organization has donors who stock the boutique with items for children and mothers. These items include diapers, wipes, cribs, car seats, baby clothes, and even maternity clothes. The organization tries to be very deliberate with resources to aid families in the community.
A Call to Men, a men’s mentoring group, meets in the building on Saturday mornings and works towards other possible opportunities for families with the assistance of Richard Moeck.
Ms. Thompson said that the organization is non-profit and benefits greatly from the help of gracious volunteers, donors and supporters. Without them the organization would not be able to accomplish and provide the services they offer. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 1 p.m. They can be reached by phone at (205) 926-3170.
