Grand Rapids, MN – Lake Country Power’s Operation Round Up® Trust Board approved $38,008 in contributions to local community programs during its March quarterly meeting. The Board reviewed and considered 41 grant applications and distributed funds to 28 projects and programs this past quarter.  

More than 70 percent of Lake Country Power’s members participate in Operation Round Up. Each month these participants round up electric bills, and the small change from each member makes a big difference collectively to help others in the region.

One of the recipients, ElderCircle, received $2,000 for its Groceries-to-Go program and volunteer mileage reimbursement in the Grand Rapids and Nashwauk areas. ElderCirlce RSVP received $2,000 for its Bone Builders program, which will purchase more weights to begin another osteoporosis prevention class in Eastern Itasca County.  

“The donations were so helpful and timely from Operation Round Up,” said Kristi Kane, Executive Director of ElderCircle. “Itasca County is such a rural county. These funds will help extend the reach of services that we provide for seniors to the outskirts of the county.”

Concerned Citizens of Pinemill Court, received $2,000 for food shelf assistance. In February the organization helped 542 individuals and distributed 8,143 pounds of food. And the Salvation Army office in Cloquet received a $3,000 grant for emergency energy assistance.

“We are so excited to receive this donation from Operation Round Up and the members of Lake Country Power,” said Jeff Noble, site supervisor of Concerned Citizens of Pinemill Court. “It was a real gift at a time when we needed it most. It will help get us through at least three months of purchasing food from Second Harvest in Duluth so we can, in turn, provide to those who need food assistance.” 

What is Operation Round Up®?
Operation Round Up® is a charitable program unique to electric cooperatives to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects by “rounding up” member’s electric bills to the nearest dollar. The average tax-deductible donation of each participating Lake Country Power member is $6 annually. The maximum yearly contribution is less than $12 per year.

Since the program’s inception in October 2004, $768,206 has been distributed to 585 community-based projects and programs.

All funds generated through Operation Round Up are set aside in a trust fund. A Trust Board comprised of nine volunteer co-op members consider grant requests from the trust each quarter. 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

Community Economic Assistance:
• Tri-Community Food Shelf
• Deer River Area Food Shelf

Emergency Energy Assistance:
• The Salvation Army, Cloquet

Education and Youth:
• Voyageurs Area Council Scout Day Camp
• Itasca County Agricultural Association
• YMCA Camp Olson
• Northland Community Schools
• Confidence Learning Center
• Close Up, Orr
• Northstar Foundation

Community Service:
• Longville Community Tennis Facility
• Threads of Hope
• Concerned Citizens of Pinemill Court
• Tamarack Golden Age (Seniors) Club
• ElderCircle
• Floodwood Services and Training, Inc.
• Jacobson Landing Recreation
• Lone Pine Needlers
• St. Louis County Sheriff’s Volunteer Rescue Squad
• Moose Lake Area Historical Society
• WeeCare Hope Chest
• ElderCircle RSVP

Community Service/Community Economic Assistance:
• Friends of the Ely Public Library
• Care Partners

Community Service/Education and Youth: • Churchill Elementary Partners in Education
• Generation W 
• Faith United Lutheran Church—Piecemakers
• Range Respite 

Applications are available online at www.lakecountrypower.coop. The next application deadline is May 15.

Lake Country Power, www.lakecountrypower.coop, is a Touchstone Energy® cooperative serving parts of eight counties in northeastern Minnesota. The rural electric cooperative provides services to more than 42,000 members and has offices located in Grand Rapids, Kettle River and Mountain Iron.

###   

Pictured below: 
The Concerned Citizens of Pinemill Court received $2,000 from Operation Round Up® for its food shelf assistance program. Jeff Noble, site supervisor, accepted the funding along with Robin Mayry and Neil Johnson (center).