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Christmas in July donations surpass goals; employees’ generous spirit shines bright
11/11/2024
The third year of Christmas in July wrapped up this fall, with totals topping organizers’ expectations. This year, the charitable campaign extended beyond Entergy nuclear to include all of the company.
With such broad participation, the $6,190 total of all goods and money collected exceeded the campaign goal of $5,000.
The drive, sponsored by Entergy’s Veterans Employee Resource Group and the company’s North American Young Generation in Nuclear and Women in Nuclear chapters, will benefit the U.S. Army 10th Combat Aviation Brigade and other selected units deployed overseas, as well as veterans in the Baton Rouge area.
“We had a great turnout, lots of donations that came from employees in all four states,” said Ashleigh Lyons, nuclear headquarters chairperson for the VERG. “I’m especially grateful for our groups in Entergy Texas, considering it was the first year they participated.”
Between June 10-28, Entergy employees brought their donations to their work locations, and on Oct. 4, Lyons delivered the collection to the Blue Star Mothers of America, Louisiana chapter 1, based in Baton Rouge. The organization packed some of the donations—including 200 handmade goodie bags from the Texas VERG chapter—into drawstring backpacks donated by the nuclear headquarters chapter. BSMA will distribute the backpacks via their homeless backpack program based in Baton Rouge.
The organization will send the remaining supplies to programs that support deployed soldiers, homeless veterans and military families staying in Fisher House while loved ones are treated at the Baton Rouge Veterans Affairs hospital.
Monetary donations will pay for shipping costs for the overseas care packages and to purchase more items that are still needed.
In expressing gratitude on behalf of the BSMA, Chapter President Denise Whitehead said, “We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the employees of Entergy. Your Christmas in July campaign was a huge success. The donations will fill many care packages for our deployed military.”
“We also want you to know that your donations extended beyond care packages,” she continued. “They helped to fill the 60 backpacks that Entergy provided for our campaign to minister to homeless veterans. We were able to include items in an additional 50 backpacks for the Veterans Affairs hospital and Fisher House. You have helped to embrace both active-duty military and veterans, one heart at a time.”
Total Entergy donations are as follows:
- Monetary donations: $3,495.00
- Amazon gift card total: $625.00
- Goods: $2,069.68
“I am beyond words on how thankful I am for all the donations made to this year’s campaign,” said Lyons. “It allowed the Veterans ERG to exceed the $5,000 goal set this year, given we opened it up to the entire company. I look forward to continuing this tradition here at Entergy in the upcoming years to continue to show our active duty and veteran community that we, Entergy, care about them.”
