That’s why they returned to Ozanam Inn to serve lunch to homeless men, women and children right here in the Crescent City. Donning hairnets, aprons and gloves, they dished up 176 hot meals and since it was a Monday, the main course was – of course – red beans and rice!

“Helping to make someone’s day a little brighter by volunteering is always rewarding, and especially when it’s someone who is struggling with basic human needs like food, shelter and clothing,” said Jessica Williams, executive assistant who organized the April volunteer event. “Serving lunch at Ozanam Inn is a humbling experience and everyone was glad we took the time to be there. This experience makes you more appreciative for what you have and will have you marking your calendar for the next time you can get back there to help.”

Entergy New Orleans tradition of feeding the homeless began in 2015 when a group of Entergy New Orleans field employees got together to make a difference for the city’s homeless population. Since then, the effort has spread to other Entergy New Orleans employees – field and office alike – who look forward to volunteering at the shelter. Besides donating their time, they also personally donate much-needed supplies where the agency will put it directly in the hands of those in need. 

“Sometimes the public’s perception of the homeless population is that they’re unpleasant or ungrateful, but they’re not,” said Shanda Smith, volunteer coordinator at Ozanam Inn. “By taking the time to volunteer, people get to see firsthand how grateful they really are – especially for the little things – and how they give thanks before every meal. It’s a great opportunity to give back and to make a real impact in someone’s life.”

In addition to providing three meals a day all 365 days a year, Ozanam Inn provides its clients a clean place to sleep; pro-bono legal, financial and health assistance; free basic necessities; and support when re-entering the working world. To learn more about the shelter, which is located in the heart of the Central Business District at 843 Camp St., visit .

Ozanam Inn Volunteer Coordinator Shanda Smith, center, stands with Entergy New Orleans volunteers after another successful lunch hour ends.

Extremely low temperatures of 25 degrees or less cause abnormally high demand for power that can create isolated overloads of the electric distribution system. In most cases, extremely high demand occurs in areas where customers have all-electric homes.

Heating systems and appliances are often left on during initial service disruption, creating too much energy demand all at once when power is restored. Electric heaters in particular can create a constant power demand, as they tend to run continuously and do not power off and on during periods of extreme cold.

This demand causes restoration to take place in sections rather than in larger compositions.

“During cold weather extremes, we use a methodical and calculated process to bring customers back online after an outage,” said Dennis Dawsey, Entergy’s vice president of customer service in Louisiana. “Rather than simply energizing an entire power line at once, we must bring customers back online one section at a time to avoid damage to our distribution system and make the situation worse. This takes more time to restore power to affected customers than if we were able to restore the entire line at the same time.”

Customers should monitor the weather and have a plan.����to view our Storm Ready Guide, which has a section on preparing for extreme winter weather. Also, for winter energy-efficiency tips, view our recent news releases located along the sidebar to the right of this article.

��

��

What is your power principle? Just as safety is Entergy’s core value, it’s mine too. I always strive to keep safety first in all I do, and to help my co-workers do the same, so that the entire team can go home to our families each evening the same way we came to work that morning.

What motivates you to live and work safely? My family motivates me. Not only do I want to provide for them, but I also want to be a good husband and father, as well as a good friend and coach to all. None of that is possible if I don’t live and work safely.

What is the best work-related advice you’ve ever been given? The best work-related advice has always been to stay focused on the task in front of you. I’ve been told, “Don’t work the job until you arrive at the job,” which means think about what you’re doing when you’re doing it. For example, when you’re driving to the next job site, never picture or imagine the job until you lay eyes on it. Focus on the job at hand – driving – until you’re safely there.

As we recently honored all veterans, we salute Mark for his dedicated military service. Mark was in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2002-2014 and held the rank of sergeant. Learn more about Entergy’s commitment to the military.

Would you like to join��Mark as he powers lives for customers��in the Southeast?��Check out career opportunities with Entergy!��You can also��!

Gary Huntley, Entergy New Orleans vice president of regulatory affairs, accepted the award on behalf of the company.��

According to the NOPJF, Entergy New Orleans received the award for “enlightened and strategic philanthropy that reflects the mission of the foundation by advancing the New Orleans Police Department and improving the safety of our community.”��

Further, the NOPJF award program said: “With a grant from Entergy, officers are now participating in advanced intensive trainings in the latest management concepts and practices used in business and government including policy and planning processes, organizational behavior and strategy, media relations and new policing strategies and innovations.”��

Giving back is an integral part of Entergy’s mission. The company is committed to creating and sustaining a healthy, vibrant community through philanthropic support, volunteerism, low-income customer service initiatives and economic development. Last year, Entergy shareholders invested more than $6 million in charitable contributions in Orleans Parish and Entergy employees donated more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service to nonprofits in the New Orleans area.��

“On behalf of Entergy New Orleans, I am proud to accept this award,” said Huntley. “And, as a company, we’re proud to support the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation through our financial and in-kind donations that will help the department in its efforts to make the city we serve safer for all.”

��

��

Entergy New Orleans’ Gary Huntley, center, was joined by fellow employees at the NOPJF’s 2017 Stake Out for Justice luncheon. Clockwise from top left are Arnold Williams, Bernell Nevil, Polly Rosemond, Kim Mitchell, Jessica Williams, Huntley and Demetric Mercadel.

��

��

This isn’t the first time the crew has been called upon for their expertise in restoring electrical vaults in a downtown area. Besides maintaining power and supporting new construction right here in New Orleans’ business district, they have traveled to Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and other southern cities following devastating storms. And just five years ago, they answered a call from New York to help restore power in Lower Manhattan following Hurricane Sandy.��

Each time they travel to restore power, they remember the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to New Orleans and how they worked to get the city back in order as their own homes and families were affected. And once again, they’re glad to help others get their lives back to normal as soon as possible. Let’s take a look:

��

��

��

With heat indices in the triple digits, New Orleanians are using more electricity to stay cool. That means disabled and elderly customers will need extra help with their monthly bills.

Thanks to the generosity of Entergy employees, customers and shareholders, elderly and disabled customers have a place to turn – The Power to Care.

Entergy New Orleans President and CEO Charles Rice recently presented more than $300,000 to the New Orleans Council on Aging – the organization that administers the program in Orleans Parish – to help qualifying customers pay their utility bills.

“The South has one of the highest poverty rates in the country,” said Rice, “and we know that many of our disabled and elderly customers struggle to meet their financial needs. The Power to Care exists to help ensure the most vulnerable among us don’t have to choose between buying medicine, putting food on the table or handling other monthly expenses.”

Howard Rodgers, executive director of the New Orleans Council on Aging, is glad The Power to Care is available as an additional tool to help senior and disabled citizens.

“Funds from The Power to Care help remove some of the financial worry that comes when the monthly budget is stretched thin,” said Rodgers. “As the cost of living keeps increasing, unexpected expenses can put those on fixed incomes in a real bind. This program is much appreciated, and helps alleviate some of the stress they face.”

In addition to The Power to Care, customers are encouraged to visit entergy.com/savemoney to access a variety of energy-saving tips and calculators that will help them determine the best cost-cutting scenarios to suit their needs. And to avoid the billing spikes that extreme temperatures can bring, customers are urged to sign up for Level Billing so they can better control their monthly budgets.��

What’s more, Entergy New Orleans customers also can take advantage of a variety of energy-efficiency programs and services through the program. And thanks to a pilot program launched by Entergy New Orleans, how weather affects home energy usage through an energy scorecard, and how to make informed choices about energy-saving measures.��

To make a donation that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Entergy shareholders, visit entergy.com/care.

What’s your power principle at work? I always strive to leave something better than the way I found it and continually look for ways to add value. I aim to make a positive impact in all I do, whether it’s improving processes, building better relationships or identifying what “should be happening” in each position I hold. I believe it’s a privilege to represent Entergy in our community, and I make sure to provide customers, groups and others I meet with positive experiences.

What motivates you to live and work safely? My friends, family and my beloved animals are the main reasons I live and work safely. Not only do I have my own dogs, but I’m involved with animal rescue organizations. I also spend a great deal of time volunteering in the community and always put safety first so I can continue to do the things that are near and dear to my heart.

What’s been your favorite work project? I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every position that I’ve held over my 30 years at Entergy and the great friends I’ve made along the way. I really can’t pick just one thing, but the opportunities I’ve had – and continue to have – to make a difference in our community are very important to me. It’s like a dream come true to be able to help others, and I look forward to doing so every day.

Would you like to join Kim as she powers lives for customers��in the Southeast?��Check out career opportunities with Entergy!��You can also��!

From clearing invasive plants to rebuilding a marsh to picking up trash in the heart of the city, employee volunteers were glad to help. Let’s take a look: 

Spring Sweep  
The largest effort was the where employee volunteers were among 350 people tackling projects in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Tammany parishes on May 20. The effort collected more than 4,000 pounds of trash from lakefront streets and ditches.

Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Louisiana and corporate employees focused their efforts on two large projects in Orleans Parish – one in City Park and one at Bayou St. John.

In City Park, Entergy volunteers gathered to eliminate invasive plant species, including cutting down 23 large, invasive Chinese Tallow trees, and remove standing debris along waterways. Not only did they remove the invaders, they also provided vegetation personnel to grind large branches that can later be used as mulch. Through this effort, they gave native plants a chance to flourish and enhanced this natural area for all to enjoy.

At Bayou St. John, Entergy volunteers helped rebuild a section of the urban marsh where the natural waterway enters Lake Pontchartrain. As part of the effort, volunteers cleaned an 8,000-square-foot area, repaired 50 feet of containment dike by placing 120 sand bags to reinforce it, and re-graded the land to make it more suitable for wetland planting. Once the area was ready, the volunteers planted California bulrush and Spartina alterniflora to help protect the marsh from future erosion.  

Lafitte Greenway
Prior to that, Entergy volunteers picked up 130 pounds of trash along , a 2.6-mile green corridor in the middle of New Orleans that connects neighborhoods from City Park to Armstrong Park. The Greenway, which was originally a canal connecting Bayou St. John to the edge of the French Quarter, opened in November 2015. It hosts a bicycle and pedestrian trail and is a favorite among locals.

“We’re proud to sponsor events such as these and to give back to the communities we serve in such a personal and meaningful way,” said Entergy customer service representative Ann Johnson, who was part of the team coordinating the Spring Sweep events. “By taking care of outdoor green spaces, or helping to rebuild marsh, we’re not only helping the environment, but we’re also making the area in which we live and work a place everyone can enjoy.”

Entergy customer service specialist Demetric Mercadel, who worked with the Friends of the Lafitte Greenway to coordinate the April cleanup effort, agrees.

“Volunteerism helps to make this company great and is just one way we power life,” said Mercadel. “It’s so gratifying to have this natural space in the heart of the city that has spurred revitalization after Hurricane Katrina destroyed so much and is attracting significant residential and commercial development. We’re happy to join with others to maintain and preserve its beauty.”

Learn more about our environmental commitment and efforts, or how our employees give back through volunteerism as just some of the many ways .

Compact fluorescent light bulbs typically use less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, which can help Orleans Parish customers save on their monthly utility bills. In fact, ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last about 10 times longer.

Entergy New Orleans customers who are still using incandescent bulbs and have not already made the switch to CFLs are eligible to receive the free replacements from Green Light New Orleans, an organization that has brought sustainability to individual homes by installing energy efficient light bulbs, backyard vegetable gardens and rain barrels. For information, visit the website or call 504-324-2429. The bulbs will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last.

Developed by the New Orleans City Council and administered by Entergy New Orleans, the ���ϳԹ��� Smart program helps New Orleans homeowners, renters and business owners save money by offering rebates and incentives for qualified energy-efficient improvements to their homes and businesses. To learn more, visit or call 504-229-6868.

Although the company gives back year-round to the community it serves, it donated some $3 million to community partners at the end of 2016 in an effort to make life better for New Orleanians now and in the future.��

In addition, several workforce and economic development organizations were included to continue driving economic growth and supporting community efforts to create jobs, and the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation was included to help the police department in making the city safer for all.��

“We’re always glad to give back and are particularly glad to help the customers we serve through supporting the many hardworking organizations in our area,” said Charles Rice, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans.��

In 2016, Entergy invested more than $6 million in charitable contributions in Orleans Parish, and Entergy employees donated more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service to nonprofits in the New Orleans area. Through the company’s sponsorship of the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s annual GiveNOLA Day, millions of dollars are raised annually for local nonprofits during the 24-hour, online giving event. In 2017, nearly $5 million was raised, topping 2016’s and 2015’s $4 million each. What’s more, in the years since Hurricane Katrina, Entergy has invested more than $37 million and thousands of hours of volunteer service to create a stronger, better-educated, more vibrant and sustainable New Orleans for the future.��

The Entergy New Orleans contributions are funding efforts ranging from STEM programs to wetland conservation/education to low-income assistance to job training. Some of the nearly 60 organizations include: STEM NOLA, the 1881 Institute of Technology, the New Orleans Council on Aging, Total Community Action, Second Harvest Food Bank, Family Service of Greater New Orleans, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, Friends of Joe Brown Park, Audubon Nature Institute, Friends of City Park, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the New Orleans Business Alliance, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, the East New Orleans Business District and Delgado Community College.��

“Making a difference in our community through philanthropy and volunteerism is just one of the many ways we power life,” added Rice. “We’re proud to give back to the city we serve and to the local organizations that help our customers in many different ways. By working together, we can continue to help New Orleans thrive and grow.”��

To learn more about previous charitable efforts, visit or the company’s corporate social responsibility website. And to make a donation to help elderly and disabled customers with their energy bills year-round, please visit The Power to Care.

��

��