Print and Online Subscriptions

The Official Newspaper of Douglas County!

print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published January 12, 2011, 12:00 AM

Small change makes a difference with REA's Operation Round Up

Runestone Electric Association’s Operation Round Up has distributed more than $462,000 in grants to community-minded groups and organizations throughout the cooperative’s service territory since its inception seven years ago.

  • Operation Round Up
    • image
    Contributed Representing some of the organizations receiving Operation Round Up grants in November (front row, left to right): Stella Bender, Osakis Area Heritage Center; Janet Nelson, Douglas County Historical Society; Ruth Plaster, Brandon History and Information Center; and Helen Stafsholt, Minnewaska Community Health Services; (middle row, left to right) Carla Beem, Operation Round Up; Dave Benson, Alexandria Senior Community Center; Jolene Schreiner, Jingle Bells Foundation; Virginia Mack, Alexandria Area Uncompensated Care Plan; and Janet Koep, West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.; (back row, left to right); Scott Dutcher, Brandon Community Foundation, component fund of the West Central Initiative; Dorie Twist, Wings Family Supportive Services; Jeff Olson, Confidence Learning Center; DeWayne Bisek, Operation Round Up; Jerome Hagen, Operation Round Up; Roger Bakewell, Salvation Army Douglas County; and Scott Schaefer, Brandon Fire Department.

Runestone Electric Association’s Operation Round Up has distributed more than $462,000 in grants to community-minded groups and organizations throughout the cooperative’s service territory since its inception seven years ago.

More than 63 percent of REA members allow their bills to be rounded up an average of 53 cents per month, amounting to $6.37 per participating member for the year.

The following 22 area organizations shared $12,225 in grants from Operation Round Up during the fourth quarter distribution cycle:

Fire departments/first responders: Lakes Area First Responders ($1,000); Kensington Fire Department ($500) and Brandon Fire Department ($500).

Youth: Greater MN children’s Choir ($275); Junior Achievement – District 206 ($250) and Osakis After Prom Committee ($250).

Community: Jingle Bells Foundation ($1,000); West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. ($1,000); Alexandria Area Uncompensated Care Plan ($1,000); Minnewaska Community Health Services, Inc. ($1,000); Salvation Army Douglas County ($1,000); Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota ($1,000); Wings Family Supportive Services ($500); Brandon Community Foundation, component fund of the West Central Initiative ($500); Confidence Learning Center ($500); Kensington Area Heritage Society ($250); Friendship Ventures ($250); Osakis Area Heritage Center ($250); Pioneer Public Television ($250); Brandon History and Information Center ($250) and Douglas County Historical Society ($250).

Senior: Alexandria Senior Community Center ($500).

Participation in Operation Round Up is voluntary. Members that wish to participate, do nothing. Your contribution will be included on your future bills. If members want to opt-out of the program, they need to call REA to be removed from the rounding up of their electric bills.

Calling all

non-profit organizations

Area organizations are encouraged to apply for Operation Round Up grants. The deadline for the next round of funding is February 18.

Application forms are available by calling Runestone Electric at (320) 762-1121 or 1-800-473-1722. Applications can be downloaded from the REA website: www.RunestoneElectric.com.

Runestone Electric Association serves more than 13,500 electric service accounts in the rural areas of Douglas, Pope, Grant, Stevens, Otter Tail, Stearns and Todd counties.

Tags: , , , 

More from around the web