Dixie Electric was founded on 7 Cooperative Principles; a key principle is concern for community.

Martin Luther King said it best when he stated, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.”

Dixie Electric employees rolled up their sleeves and put words into action by serving in different areas of the cooperative’s service territory. Dixie Electric, along with other electric cooperatives in the state, participated in an organized day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For Dixie Electric employees, that meant volunteering at local food pantries.

• On Thursday, Jan. 17, Waynesboro employees Dan Wooten and Julie McKee, along with Community Relations Coordinator Pollyanna Magee, served at the Samaritan’s Closet and Pantry. The volunteers packed grocery sacks with food to be given out to local citizens the following day.

• On Friday, Jan. 18, Petal employees Eric Bryant, Courtney Davis, Ryan Boutwell and Pollyanna Magee served at the Petal Children’s Task Force. The team prepared food boxes for the community and stocked food on the shelves as it was donated.

• On Monday, Jan. 21, Laurel employees Kim Beech, Sheila Richardson, Mitzi Walley, Pat McCarthy, Brandon Buckley, Joe Donald and Pollyanna Magee served at the Christian Food Mission. This group chopped vegetables, deboned meat and prepared hot meals that were delivered to local residents.

Cooperative Community Day of Service was held in conjunction with Coast Electric, Singing River Electric and Yazoo Valley Electric, as well as Cooperative Energy, Dixie Electric’s wholesale energy provider.

“Cooperative Community Day allows our employees the opportunity to directly give back to the communities we serve,” General Manager Randy Smith said. “This is a small way for us to serve our communities.”

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr.