During its tenth annual “positiveNRG” week, nearly 30 volunteers from NRG’s Chalk Point, Maryland Generating Station visited one of The Arc’s residences to rehab the site. Arthur Jones is one of three people – all with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) – that are now even happier to call their house a home. NRG’s volunteer crew arrived bright and early and some stayed up to ten hours to complete projects that improved the home, inside and out.

NRG completed several projects including painting, replacing shutters, installing hand rails on an outdoor staircase, cleaning gutters, replacing shingles and siding on an old shed, pressure washing, clearing away brush to reclaim the backyard, and creating a plant bed which would be easily accessible to an individual utilizing a wheelchair. The time, labor, and materials were donated from NRG.

According to Chalk Point plant manager Greg Staggers, “We look forward to these projects every year as a way to directly support our community.  In this case it was particularly rewarding to see the improvements our team made take shape throughout the day.”

Arthur Jones was excited throughout the project. Cheryl Zeeger, The Arc’s Property & Facility Manager, took Arthur shopping for some finishing touches to highlight the freshly painted rooms. He picked out new curtains, with a splash of blue, which would match other items in the home. He buzzed about throughout the day, thanking the NRG crew and watching the progress they were making on his home.

He watched in eager anticipation as the team cleared out trees and created more space in his yard – which he already envisioned filling with an outdoor swing – and talked about how much space he’d now have to play basketball in the front yard.

After a lunch shared by the volunteers, Arthur, and a group of The Arc’s employees, there was one more generous surprise in store. The Arc was presented with a donation of $1000 from NRG, to be used where it would be needed most. People supported by The Arc Southern Maryland benefit greatly through volunteerism and donations. As a nonprofit organization, support offered by the community has a tremendous impact on people with I/DD supported by The Arc. The effect of “positiveNRG” week could clearly be seen in Arthur’s smile and the smiles of NRG’s hardworking volunteers.

The Arc Southern Maryland is a non-profit organization affiliated at the state level with The Arc of Maryland and at the national level with The Arc of the United States, which is the world’s largest grassroots organization of, and for, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. 

Since 1975, The Arc Southern Maryland has provided quality support and programs aimed at creating opportunities for independence and personal success for people with different abilities in inclusive communities.  For information about The Arc Southern Maryland, or to learn about volunteering or making a donation, visit www.arcsomd.org or call (410) 535-2413.

NRG Energy, Inc. is a leading power company in the U.S.  To learn more about NRG’s services and its contributions to the community, visit www.nrg.com.