Across the USA fleet, member companies and their employees are giving back for the holidays to help those in need.

“This time of year has a different focus for all of us,” said USA Board Chairman Tom Joyce of PSEG Nuclear. “We tend to take more opportunities to give thanks for what we have, socialize with friends and family and there’s a priority on giving. It’s the time of year when many of us focus on those in our local communities who can use our support.”

In these communities supported by USA members, employees are making sure children have gifts to open this holiday season. Employees at Columbia, Xcel, Fermi, PSEG Nuclear, STP and PPL Susquehanna collect toys for children in need. These efforts are coordinated with local Head Start and Salvation Army programs as wells as state foster care agencies. Over the past three decades, Columbia has adopted more than 11,000 children during the holiday season.

A number of fleet members conduct other holiday gift programs as well. Cook hosted a holiday blood drive that will save close to 250 lives while Xcel’s Women In Nuclear chapter collected winter clothing and blankets for families. PSEG Nuclear launched a blanket drive as well while Susquehanna conducts several initiatives with support towards a community holiday meal and area soup kitchen.

STP’s Women in Nuclear Chapter, through its Supporting Troops and Patriotism Committee, sent care packages to service men and women of STP family members. The packages included snacks, games, books, and hand sanitizers.

Special thanks go out to all the employees at USA member stations for their efforts this holiday season.

Columbia Generating Station’s chief nuclear officer Brad Sawatzke fills in for Santa Claus and listens to a special request from a young girl at the Children’s Developmental Center in Richland, Wash. during one of the Head Start holiday parties Dec. 18.