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By On Common Ground News (www.ocgnews.com)
DECATUR, GA—The Southside Council of AT&T, a volunteer group of retirees and employees, are showing their appreciation for their community firefighters.
Council member Bessie Marks, of Decatur, recently donated not one but two boxes of assorted cereals, fruits, chips, snacks, and a toy fire truck to DeKalb County’s Fire Station #16, located on Flat Shoals Road in Decatur. Marks, who retired from AT&T after working there for more than 30 years, kicked off the council’s “Happy and Healthy Firefighters” project with her donation to mark her 80th birthday. Marks purchased all of the goodies herself and gave them to Firefighter J. Pinkston.
“Our mission is community service. We have a number of initiatives, where we assist our first responders. But this is the first time that we provided our firefighters with items that were for them,” said Yvornnie A. Rice, president of Southside Council of AT&T Pioneers. “In the past, we’ve donated things like Teddy Bears for them to give to children.”
Rice said there are about 35 active members in the Southside Council. Each member decides what they want to donate for their birthday month as a service project.
The Southside Council is one of nine groups of AT&T Pioneers providing various volunteer services in local communities.
Pictured: Retiree Bessie Marks, 80, shows off one of the goodie boxes that she made for Firestation #16. Firefighter L. Pinkston accepted the donation. Photos provided.
