When Jenna Singletary left her hometown of Headland, Alabama for Birmingham, she expected her new role as a fuel analyst with Southern Company to keep her busy. What she didn’t expect was how volunteering would help her feel at home in a new city.
At Southern Company, a long-time corporate partner of United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA), Jenna schedules natural gas deliveries to keep the company’s plants running efficiently. Hers is a fast-paced, 24/7 job that literally helps keeps the lights on across the region.
Needless to say, that’s important. But when she became a coordinator for her team’s United Way campaign, she discovered a whole new way to make an impact. During the 2024 campaign, her team achieved 100% participation in giving, an accomplishment she’s still proud of.
“I remember thinking, ‘This is great. We’re making an impact,’” she said. “‘But what about the people who can’t give money? How can we give our time instead?’”
Driven by that question, Jenna turned to United Way Hands On, United Way’s volunteer center, and quickly discovered that volunteering could make her new city feel smaller, friendlier and more connected. She also found it to be a very personal way to make a tangible difference.
Making Birmingham Feel Like Home
For her first project, Jenna worked alongside her coworkers at the Midfield Community Garden, shoveling dirt, pulling weeds and constructing picnic tables for an outdoor classroom. Soon after, she joined a playground revitalization at Glen Iris Elementary School.
“Coming from a family of educators, schools matter to me,” she said. “At Glen Iris, we took before-and-after pictures. Three hours earlier, the area looked worn down. By the end, it was a place where kids could play and feel proud of their school. That was a good feeling.”
These experiences didn’t just strengthen the community; they brought people together.
“I met coworkers I’d never really talked to before,” Jenna said. “Now when we see each other in the office, we have those shared memories. It built camaraderie, and it’s given me deeper ties to Birmingham. You get to know people you might never have crossed paths with otherwise.”
When asked what she finds most meaningful about service, Jenna points to both the results and the relationships.
“At Glen Iris, someone could walk past that playground and know people cared enough to come and do this,” she said.
“And for me, it’s been a way to meet people, both in the community and at work. You never know when you’ll need someone or when someone will need you. Volunteering is a way of building that support system.”
Inspired by a Lesson from Home
Looking ahead, Jenna hopes to stay involved in efforts that meet people’s most basic needs — from stocking food pantries to supporting United Way Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to homebound seniors throughout Jefferson County. To her, addressing hunger is about giving people the stability they need to focus on school, work and life.
“My mom was a teacher and always kept Pop-Tarts and cereal in her classroom because she believed you can’t learn if you’re hungry,” Jenna said. “That stayed with me. Food is such a basic need, and if it isn’t met, everything else becomes harder.”
Her advice to anyone considering volunteering is simple: “Just do it. You might wake up sore the next day, but you’ll know you made a difference.”
Volunteer With United Way Hands On
Connecting Volunteers to Meaningful Service Since 1998United Way Hands On connects individuals, families and groups with impactful volunteer opportunities that drive positive social change. See how you or your company can get involved.
