Members of the Southern Pioneer H.U.G.S. team presented the First Southern Baptist Church Food Pantry with $2,000 in grant funding courtesy of the utility’s Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) program on Dec. 17. The food pantry will use the grant to offset costs associated with higher grocery bills.

“The food pantry has seen an increase in the need for food assistance coupled with an increase in grocery prices,” said Joe Denoyer, First Baptist Food Pantry representative. “We have seen our (the food pantry’s) grocery bill double over the years and are thankful to receive this grant.”

The food pantry distributes food on the second Saturday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m.

“The H.U.G.S. team is honored to present this grant to the First Southern Baptist Church Food Pantry,” said Ruby Terrazas, Southern Pioneer H.U.G.S. team member and energy services coordinator. “These dollars are generated from recycled materials from retired infrastructure in our service territory and go back into the community to serve a meaningful purpose.”

Southern Pioneer Electric’s Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) Program presented the Liberal Police & Community Association with $4,000 in grants on Friday, Dec. 13. The grant will aid in funding the association’s LPD & Me Christmas program.

The program’s goal is to help children in the Liberal and surrounding communities have a Christmas to remember.

“The program is aimed at helping children from struggling families who may not otherwise get the opportunity to experience Christmas that way many of us get to,” said Dalanie Underwood, Liberal Police Department Community Police Coordinator.

The Liberal Police and Community Association will also utilize the funds to help children impacted by natural disasters in the area.

“We enjoy seeing the impact of these grants on local organizations and how they empower the community,” said Ruby Terrazas, H.U.G.S.  team member. “We look forward to seeing how the Liberal Police and Community Association will continue to support its community with these funds.”

Dec. 3, 2024 – Representatives from Southern Pioneer Electric’s H.U.G.S. (Helping Us Give to Society) program awarded Barker Arts a $2,500 H.U.G.S. grant and an additional $2,500 from CoBank’s Sharing Success program for its digital drawing station.

The grants will be allocated to purchasing equipment and software for a “digital drawing hub” at Baker Arts Center.

“The goal of this initiative is to remove financial barriers and provide accessible, artistic resources for Liberal citizens,” said Julie Parsons, Baker Arts Board Member. “We hope to provide state-of-the-art drawing tablets, computers and software to have the space serve as a hub for artistic expression. By removing barriers such as expensive equipment and specialized training, our project aims to empower individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to engage in digital art without financial constraints.”

The proposed space will be available for classes and workshops during the center’s open hours. The center hopes to encourage and bring in artists of all skill levels and ages.

“We aim to establish an inclusive environment where every resident feels valued and represented in their artistic endeavors,” said Parsons. “Beyond nurturing individual creativity, the digital drawing station will serve as a central hub for community engagement and collaboration.”

“We are proud to support Barker Art Center’s efforts to provide this service to our Liberal community,” said Ruby Terrazas, H.U.G.S. team member. “Encouraging community through the arts is a great means of empowering our community, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this new digital drawing station.”