Alabama Trucking Company Helps Nonprofit Renovate Building
The house paint on Robert Almon’s hands Dec. 9 was a sign of progress.
Surrounded by co-workers from Oxford, Alabama-based BR Williams Trucking, Almon took a break from painting inside a building in Anniston on Dec. 9 to talk about his company’s help in turning it into a hub for youth mentorship.
Almon is president of the Legacy Club, an Anniston nonprofit mentoring program that will soon move into a new building.
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Those workers, about 50 in two shifts, didn’t take a pay cut to help Almon. The company paid them just like it was any other day and bought the supplies.
A reception area, large kitchen and numerous rooms were filled with B.R. Williams workers busy with paint rollers and brushes, brightening dark rooms with fresh paint.
The group of 70-plus Legacy Club members in Anniston takes those youth on tours of colleges throughout the South, provide mentoring and tutoring from volunteer teachers and allow them to speak and learn about abuse from experts in the field.
“We want them to go to the next level,” Almon said.
The group focuses on children who are excelling academically and already aspiring to better things, Almon said. Students must maintain certain grades to take part, and they’re held to certain standards.
Founded in 2004 by Vikki Floyd and Wytausha Perry, the nonprofit group first catered to female students. Floyd’s husband, Sebastian Floyd, later started a men's chapter of the club.
Almon stressed that the group works with parents instead of trying to “become the parents.” It’s through that combined effort that the children stand the best chance of succeeding, he said.
For Almon, it was a close friend, Sebastian Floyd, who spurred Almon’s desire to help others. Floyd died two years ago but left in Almon a passion for service.
“I can’t do exactly what he was doing, but that motivates me to go on. To continue what he started,” Almon said. “This was his dream. He wanted to see us with a building.”
BR Williams President Greg Brown took a break from painting to talk about why he agreed for the company to help.
“This organization has great leadership and is making an impact in our community,” Brown said. “How could we not support the activities and the legacy of this operation?”
The club had met in community centers and elsewhere, but having the building will help the group grow, Almon said. Having the larger space means students can divide by age, and volunteers can focus on the different needs of each, Almon said.
“I feel so humbled by what’s happening,” Almon said, speaking of his co-workers help Dec. 9. “It’s the best company I’ve ever worked for.”
