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All we have to do is turn on the TV or talk to a friend to hear about hard times and difficult situations many people are currently facing. I believe everyone probably knows someone who has been affected by the current recession. Times like these give us the opportunity to reach out to our neighbors. We just never know when we may be the one faced with overwhelming challenges and would welcome a boost to get us back on our feet.
Although our community has many excellent organizations that help others, today I want to highlight Operation Round Up sponsored by Canadian Valley Electric Co-op (CVEC). I became aware of this program when we moved north of Shawnee and began purchasing electricity from CVEC.
The program is simple. Each month, participating members allow CVEC to automatically round up their electric bill to the next highest dollar. The difference will go to a fund from which donations are made to qualifying individuals and organizations. The CVEC Foundation board looks carefully at each application and then determines if a grant can be given.
While CVEC Foundation’s bylaws prohibit paying utility bills, a large variety of needs may be met. Operation Round Up provides funding for food, clothing, housing and other requests as applicants try to overcome a short term financial hurdle. Other examples include helping senior citizens purchase medicine, single moms take care of home repairs, and families who have been left homeless by fire, flood, or other natural disasters.
In addition, grants are available to nonprofit organizations that provide programs within the communities Canadian Valley serves. It can aid rescue squads, volunteer fire departments, day care centers, literacy programs, senior citizen centers, health clinics, and other services. Operation Round Up has enormous potential to help people who need the support of their neighbors.
Since 1999, more than $804,000 has been awarded to over 300 individuals and 60 organizations. Any person or organization in the nine county CVEC service area is eligible to participate in the program. On average, a member will contribute approximately $6.00 per year.
A little generosity can go a long way toward putting a smile on someone’s face.
If you would like to contribute to Operation Roundup or to find out how to apply for assistance you can contact the Canadian Valley Electric Co-op at 405-273-4680
Editor’s Note: This guest editorial is offered by Tom Mikles, a member of The News-Star Guest Editorial Advisory Board. He is Ag Business Coordinator at Gordon Cooper Technology Center. The views expressed by our guest editorialists and guest columnists are theirs, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the News-Star’s management.
All we have to do is turn on the TV or talk to a friend to hear about hard times and difficult situations many people are currently facing. I believe everyone probably knows someone who has been affected by the current recession. Times like these give us the opportunity to reach out to our neighbors. We just never know when we may be the one faced with overwhelming challenges and would welcome a boost to get us back on our feet.
Although our community has many excellent organizations that help others, today I want to highlight Operation Round Up sponsored by Canadian Valley Electric Co-op (CVEC). I became aware of this program when we moved north of Shawnee and began purchasing electricity from CVEC.
The program is simple. Each month, participating members allow CVEC to automatically round up their electric bill to the next highest dollar. The difference will go to a fund from which donations are made to qualifying individuals and organizations. The CVEC Foundation board looks carefully at each application and then determines if a grant can be given.
While CVEC Foundation’s bylaws prohibit paying utility bills, a large variety of needs may be met. Operation Round Up provides funding for food, clothing, housing and other requests as applicants try to overcome a short term financial hurdle. Other examples include helping senior citizens purchase medicine, single moms take care of home repairs, and families who have been left homeless by fire, flood, or other natural disasters.
In addition, grants are available to nonprofit organizations that provide programs within the communities Canadian Valley serves. It can aid rescue squads, volunteer fire departments, day care centers, literacy programs, senior citizen centers, health clinics, and other services. Operation Round Up has enormous potential to help people who need the support of their neighbors.
Since 1999, more than $804,000 has been awarded to over 300 individuals and 60 organizations. Any person or organization in the nine county CVEC service area is eligible to participate in the program. On average, a member will contribute approximately $6.00 per year.
A little generosity can go a long way toward putting a smile on someone’s face.
If you would like to contribute to Operation Roundup or to find out how to apply for assistance you can contact the Canadian Valley Electric Co-op at 405-273-4680
Editor’s Note: This guest editorial is offered by Tom Mikles, a member of The News-Star Guest Editorial Advisory Board. He is Ag Business Coordinator at Gordon Cooper Technology Center. The views expressed by our guest editorialists and guest columnists are theirs, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the News-Star’s management.
