Last year we started the Natural Gas Video award because we had seen so many great video projects from our members. Spectra Energy ended up winning the award with a great video on natural gas. One of the finalists was a Nicor video that went into details about how that natural gas utility was active in their community. I said at the time that I would love to be able to post a video from each member highlighting their role in their community.

Well Spectra took me up on my suggestion. Last month, Spectra Energy employees participated in more than 25 volunteer projects that occurred in Houston and across the Southeast United States as part of the company’s Helping Hands in Action (HHIA) initiatives. HHIA is the company’s annual month-long volunteer drive that encourages employees to give their time and share their talents to local non-profit/charitable organizations across North America.

I sent an email to Caitlin Bubela and Jerry Hereden over at Spectra Energy to learn about some of the highlights from the program. Here’s what they sent along:

• Play ball! Volunteers in Thomaston, Tex., helped the Goliad County Little League spruce up its field in preparation for opening day at the ball field.
• Nothing like a PBJ. Numerous volunteer teams in Houston gathered to prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to benefit SEARCH, a homeless service provider in the community.
• Sprucing up the campus. In Oran, Mo., Spectra Energy employees planted trees at the local public school to beautify the new campus playground.
• Swing away. Volunteers in Norris City, Ill., painted swing sets and picnic tables for the enjoyment of all members of the community.
• Elbow grease. The Ensemble Theatre in Houston has clean carpets and a fresh coat of paint thanks to the elbow grease of Spectra Energy employees.
• Preparing meals. A team of volunteers in St. Francisville, La., partnered with the local chapter of the American Cancer Society (ACS) to prepare a meal, which was sold at the organization’s Relay for Life event. The proceeds from the meal benefited the ACS.
• Time to play. The Rose City Boys and Girls Club in North Little Rock benefited from the time and talent of Spectra Energy’s team that painted playground equipment and executed a general site cleanup.
• Sweat equity. The home of an elderly, disabled Houstonian received much needed repairs, thanks to the sweat equity of Spectra Energy employees and Rebuilding Together Houston.
• Discovering the great outdoors. Tennessee Jaycee’s Camp Discovery in Gainesboro, Tenn., provides a camp experience for children with disabilities.  A group of Spectra Energy volunteers painted and worked on numerous projects at the facility for the special campers.
• Woodworking. Evangeline Elementary School in Evangeline, La., is the beneficiary of new cabinetry, thanks to the handiwork of the Spectra Energy team.
• A long trek. A team of Spectra Energy riders biked from Houston to Austin in celebration of the annual MS 150.  The ride raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to fund continued research in hopes of identifying a cure.
• New roots. The Next Door in Knoxville, Tenn., provides a home for women recently released from prison.  Spectra Energy volunteers planted a garden and did general gardening work at the facility.
• Right down the middle. Palace Lanes in Houston was the place to be as Spectra Energy employees gathered for the annual Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon.  The citywide event raises money to support the organization’s mission of educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

You can watch more Spectra Energy videos over at their YouTube page. Their Helping Hands in Action effort will continue throughout Canada and in the Northeast United States on June 1.

If you’re a natural gas utility, don’t forget to drop us a line so we can help spread the word about all the valuable work you’re doing in your community. You can just leave a link in the comments below.