Through the contributions of Lake Country Power's participating members, the Operation Round Up® Electric Trust Board recently approved $51,950 in assistance to local community programs during its quarterly meeting – helping surpass $3 million in giving since the program’s inception in 2004. 

The cooperative’s Trust Board reviewed and considered 49 grant applications and distributed funds to 40 projects and programs this past quarter.

All funds generated through Operation Round Up® are set aside in a trust fund. A voluntary Trust Board of nine co-op members administers the trust. Of the funds collected through the program, 100 percent is distributed to charitable organizations through an application and selection process. The Trust Board uses special guidelines and policies when choosing recipients.

Most Recent Recipients

• Solway Volunteer Fire Department – emergency and rescue tools
• Ely’s Historic State Theater – free tickets for film festival
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul – assistance to neighbors in need
• Cass County Historical Society – assistance to pay energy costs
• Minnesota Juvenile Officers Association – MN JOA Conference
• Hope Lutheran Church, Walker – food boxes 
• Journey Christian Church Quilt Group – quilts, pillowcases, baby quilts
• Northland Area Family Service Center – toys for kids
• Orr Ambulance Service – purchase equipment
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids/Greenway – safe place for youth
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota – meals for low-income, high-risk seniors
• Second Harvest North Central Food Bank – child hunger program
• Barnum Community Education – rain gear
• Cloquet Educational Foundation – Invest in Kids program
• Loon Country Quilters – quilts, pillow cases, Hugga Bears
• Cotton Community Church Ladies Aid – blankets-warmth/caring for others
• Wee Care Sewers – baby layettes for Life Care Center
• Itasca County Family YMCA – winter adventures at the YMCA
• Feed 2-Win Northland Community School Food Program – after school meal program
• Twig Amateur Hockey Association – rink dividers project
• St. Louis County Rescue Squad – GPS handheld units
• Queen of Peace Quilters – lap quilts for adults, baby, valor quilts
• Foster Love Closet – clothing, toys, food
• Project Care Free Clinic – basic healthcare for uninsured/underinsured
• True Friends – Adapted/accessible adventures for youth education
• Aitkin County Search and Rescue – thermal imaging cameras
• Side Lake Events Committee – five family events
• Life House, Inc. – education credentialing support for youth
• Well Being Development – transportation, food, isolation, anxiety services
• Ely Community Health Center – Ely free clinic
• American Association of University Women – STEM workshops
• Floodwood Service & Training Inc. – chore and recycling equipment
• Babbitt-Embarrass Womens Club – holiday gift bags
• Judy Garland Children’s Museum – school field trip program transportation
• Kootasca Community Action Inc. – Kootasca care kits
• Best Christmas Ever – assistance for families in need
• Northwoods Partners – tasty Tuesday
• Polar Cubs Childcare Center – office start-up equipment
• Story Portage – 23rd veteran community education program
• Mesabi Humane Society – spay and neuter program 

Operation Round Up® is a charitable program unique to electric co-ops, which is designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects by “rounding up” members’ electric bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation of each participating Lake Country Power member is less than $6 annually.

Among Lake Country Power’s 43,000 members, 67% of all active electric accounts participate in the program through voluntary contributions. Interested members can opt into the Operation Round Up® program by calling the cooperative at 800-421-9959 or using an online form at lakecountrypower.coop.

Applications are available online at www.lakecountrypower.coop (My Cooperative > Community > Operation Round Up®). The next application deadline is February 15.