After 25 successful years as a high school teacher, Annette Sumlin’s life began to crumble before her eyes.

During this trying time, she was introduced to Project SHARE, which provides emergency assistance to elderly and disabled people who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

Annette Sumlin was a high school teacher for 25 years. (Chuck St. John/Alabama NewsCenter)

“Project SHARE has been a God-given blessing and is especially needed in my health situation,” said Sumlin, who wears a monitor that transmits health data to medical professionals overseeing her recovery. “I spent years assisting others, but I never thought I would be in a position where I would have to ask for help. I’m very appreciative to Project SHARE for being there to assist individuals like me, whatever the circumstances may be. Project SHARE is actually a blessing for all of us, not just me.”

Despite the challenges she has faced, Sumlin remains upbeat.

“I’m a survivor and a fighter,” she said. “Out of everything I have gone through, it has made me stronger, and given me a sense of completion and a sense of satisfaction.”

According to Alabama Possible’s 2016 poverty data sheet, 19.2 percent of Alabamians, or 900,000 people, live below the poverty line. But Project SHARE, created by Alabama Power in 1982, is helping to lift that burden for many people.

The program pays heating and cooling bills for low-income elderly and disabled Alabamians statewide. It will cover the cost of fuels including electricity, gas, coal, kerosene and wood.

Project SHARE – the same program but with new faces behind the scenes

In October, Alabama Power and the rural electric cooperatives formed a new partnership with the Salvation Army, which will now administer Project SHARE. Previously, the American Red Cross joined with Alabama Power and the cooperatives to oversee the program. But because the Red Cross has recently narrowed its focus to include only disaster-relief efforts and blood donations, the Salvation Army is stepping in to take its place on the Project SHARE team.

“Project SHARE has been helping older and disabled Alabamians with their energy bills for 34 years,” said Myla Calhoun, Alabama Power’s vice president of Charitable Giving. “SHARE’s success is due to the compassion and energy that the American Red Cross demonstrated from the program’s beginning.

“Alabama Power is grateful to the Red Cross for its decision to help us establish SHARE all those years ago. Our new partner, the Salvation Army, brings a breadth of experience and a legacy of caring that fits Project SHARE’s mission perfectly,” she said.

While the Salvation Army is coming aboard the team, the focus of Project SHARE remains unchanged, said Peggy Burnett, Alabama Power Charitable Giving program manager. It will continue serving people who are 62 and older or who are 100 percent disabled.

“The Salvation Army is honored to partner with Alabama Power and Project SHARE to meet the needs of so many across the state of Alabama,” said Major Bob Parker, area commander of the Greater Birmingham Area Command of the Salvation Army. “Project Share has touched the lives of those in need across our state for years. We look forward to being a part of that meaningful service to our fellow Alabamians for many years to come.”

Alabama Power will soon launch a campaign to encourage customers and employees to renew their support of SHARE. Along with featuring the program in company publications and on the Internet, there will be a focus on promoting SHARE through social media to reach a wider audience.

Customers and employees will be given other opportunities to pledge their support.

“Historically, we’ve given customers the option to sign up for Project SHARE through their power bill three times a year,” Burnett said. “But starting in 2017, we are planning to add the Project SHARE checkoff option on power bills all year round.”

In 2015, 7,350 families, consisting of 11,745 people, benefited from Project SHARE, receiving $1,303,713.28 in utility assistance. Since it was established 34 years ago, the program has provided $38,403,713.28 in assistance to 385,834 families.

Every day, Project SHARE is continuing to ease financial burdens for people like Dustin Murray-May. It has afforded independence for this young man with cerebral palsy, allowing him to recently move from his parents’ home into a place of his own.

“It’s organizations out there like Project SHARE that help people like me pay our bills,” said Murray-May.

Jeff Bowman, a social worker for Urban Ministry in Birmingham, sees how much Project SHARE means to his clients. Urban Ministry is one of many agencies that act as a liaison by informing their clients of available social services.

“The need is so great,” Bowman said. “Many low-income elderly and disabled persons in Alabama rely on programs like Project SHARE. As temperatures rise during the summer and utility expenses go up, it is hard for them to meet their household budget, which is required to maintain housing stability. Thanks to Alabama Power for creating this vital safety net, many low-income elderly and disabled people are currently able to avoid disconnection of utilities and maintain economic stability.”

Signing up for Project SHARE is easy. Employees and customers can pledge to make a monthly donation of $1, $2, $5, $10 or any other whole-dollar amount.

Customers can enroll through the checkoff option on their power bill or by calling Alabama Power at 1-800-245-2244. Employees can also pledge their contribution through payroll deduction.

For more information about Project SHARE, visit www.alabamapower.com.