COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — An employee-driven initiative through Dominion Energy has helped local families in need for the past 42 years. Known as the “Good Neighbor Fund Christmas Project,” volunteers packed 450 bags of food filled with canned meat, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Around 500 toys were hand wrapped and delivered along with the food to families across the Midlands — families that are referred by Dominion Energy employees. “Whether it’s a child being able to wake up on Christmas Day and there’s a present under the tree, or for that parent who is struggling and trying to figure out how they can provide Christmas for their children, we’re able to help them,” Annette Burnette serves on the Good Neighbor Fund Board at Dominion. The donations will partially go to help low-income Hispanic and Latino families within Richland School District Two. “It means absolutely everything because growing up, we didn’t have everything. We grew up with 4 other siblings, 5 of us total with my mom and my mom was a single mother, so it was a struggle to get our next meal sometimes it was a struggle having my mom being the person supporting all of us, so being able to give back to the community is a personal thing for me,” says Javier Santos. “Being hungry is not a good feeling for anybody, especially knowing this amazing country. It’s terrible as a mother, they don’t have food, or as a parent we get frustrated when we are not able to cover our children’s needs,” says Nelly Jolley, the Hispanic Outreach Coordinator for Richland Two. Recipients, she says, are so grateful for the love and support. “I’m going to have my Christmas knowing that our needy families, our most important families in the community are going to have food on the table, thanks to you all, really important, thank you I’m sorry, I’m getting emotional. Thank you so much,” she says. The initiative also provides financial assistance throughout the year to families that face tragedy or emergencies. Categories: Local News, News Tags: Annette Burnette, Dominion Energy, Good Neighbor Fund Christmas Project, Javier Santos, Nelly Jolley