Navajo Generating Station employees exceeded all expectations by nearly doubling the amount of contributions collected in their record-setting drive last year by raising $21,200 through employee donations this year.

NGS Senior Administrative Technician Kerri Lane took on the job of coordinating this year’s drive that began Oct. 1 and lasted until Nov. 20. She set a goal of $15,200, which was exceeded by $6,000.  

At the start, that goal was considered optimistic given the pending closure of the plant, employees being redeployed to other SRP work locations and financial uncertainties for many.

But it didn’t stay that way for long. Drama, competition and the altruism NGS employees are known for kicked in, and pretty soon a glorious donation stampede was underway until $21,200 had been raised.

“What an awesome drive,” Lane said. “It was a great run. Team NGS definitely finished strong!”   

As the total approached $20,900, Lane sent out another email expressing delighted alarm. Supervisors kept donating in one hundred dollar increments, and the drive ended with a stunning tally of $21,200 in donations and 642 cans of food.

Of that amount, $15,520 was presented to the Circle of Page Food Pantry, $3,500 to Elks Lodge for its 32-year-old Thanksgiving turkey drive and its Christmas turkeys and hams program, and Page schools will receive $2,180 to help with its after-school programs.

“This is incredible,” said Gerry Layton of Circle of Page Food Bank. “It’s just so wonderful to know that they’re thinking of us and wanting to help in any way they can. It will be put to great use. We very much appreciate their very generous donation.”

“This team leads by example,” NGS Plant Manager Joe Frazier told his NGS team members. “Words are not required when actions like this can easily be seen. I am very lucky to be a part of this team.”

Lane set a goal of $3,800 for each of the four departments; Operations, Maintenance, Railroad & Heavy Equipment and the Combo Team of smaller departments.

“We sent out the note and right off the bat the Operations Dept. came running,” she said. “They had one individual who made a $1,000 donation, and the ball just kind of kept rolling.”

Midway between the second and third week, every department started its food sales and bake sales. Everything from pozole, tamales, cakes, breakfast burritos, beef stew with frybread, nachos, pies, cookies, popcorn balls, peanut brittle and Rice Krispy treats were being prepared and donated for sale.

“Operations set the bar high right out the gate,” she said. “Railroad and Maintenance got going and our numbers started to climb. We were only a few weeks in and we did awesome. We surpassed $15,200 and I thought, ‘OK, anything after this is a bonus.”

Lane sent out daily emails to keep everyone involved. Plant employees watched in disbelief as the totals kept rising to $16,000, $18,000 and higher. Finally, she raised the goal to an unheard of $20,000, and the real competition was on.

The Railroad Dept. holds the reputation and record for typically raising the most money during any food drive and never being beat.

“I was amazed by it,” said Railroad & Heavy Equipment O&M 3 Supervisor Ray John, Jr. “I didn’t realize we could pull this off, being our last year. As the numbers were increasing, I used that as leverage to get more money from these guys, more canned food, feed off of everyone’s energy.”

“This is really fantastic and speaks reams about the benevolence of the NGS family,” said Salt River Project Senior Director for Power Generation Bill Alkema.