CRESTVIEW — Concerned Citizens Outreach Workers, a Crestview-based nonprofit organization that feeds and clothes clients, was one of two organizations recognized Tuesday night during Gulf Power’s annual Power of Service Awards.
The second organization was Fort Walton Beach-based Royal Generation Development of Kings and Queens. Each organization was awarded a $2,500 grant.
“This is our opportunity to publicly acknowledge those who may go unnoticed but serve a vital role in trying to solve important issues in their communities,” said Bentina Terry, Gulf Power’s vice president of Customer Services and Sales. “The organizations we honor may be small in size but they have a big impact.”
When considering recipients, Gulf Power employees looked for groups that support minorities and underrepresented populations. The energy company started the Power of Service awards in 2012 to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service.
Gulf Power has recognized 43 organizations in Northwest Florida and awarded more than $104,500, according to a media release.
Every other week, Concerned Citizens Outreach Workers, founded in 1993, serves 100 hot meals for its clients both on site and via delivery to the homebound.
They also operate a clothing closet where they provide free clothes to their clients, and each year they collect jackets for children within the community. Other outreach efforts include sponsoring classrooms, the annual Back-to-School Bash to collect school supplies, the Pastors and Community dinner and an annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Royal Generation Development of Kings and Queens is a nonprofit youth program dedicated to harvesting, investing, developing and educating young men and women to help them become successful adults and empowering them to make a positive difference in their community.
The organization aims to prepare participants to face the challenges of adulthood through committed mentoring and tutoring. Through educational programs, community involvement and positive reinforcement, the organization forms a foundation for youth built on self-confidence and responsibility with a goal to propel them to reach their potential and become Kings and Queens within their community.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gulf Power recognizes nonprofits' service