The Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson, recognized local organizations receiving $17,250 through Operation Round Up. These donations occur due to monthly contributions by participating Federated members. 24 groups received money in this 51st round of funding:
Organization Amount Purpose
SWWC Services Cooperative, Windom $274 For occupational therapy universal cuffs for kids unable to use
their hands & safety educ. materials for students with disabilities
Heritage Acres, Fairmont $300 Hire blacksmith for July 4th music festival event
Heron Landers 4-H Club $326 Buy sunscreen for Lakefield Aquatic Center, 2 umbrellas for
life guards & four kids’ life jackets for community pride project
Des Moines Valley Community Wellness $350 Toward bike helmets & safety vests for safety campaign
Jackson County 7th grade girls basketball $360 Toward jerseys tops and 6 basketballs for off-season games
HL/O/Fulda girls basketball program $400 To reduce the program’s camp fees
HLO Family & Consumer Science Classroom $420 Chemistry equipment for food science, like scales & test tubes
Martin County Historical Society, Fairmont $450 Replace up to three mannequins to display historical clothing
Jackson County Fair $500 Toward ag education displays in new baby animal barn
Granada Fire Department $500 Toward washer/dryer for turnout gear to remove cancer-causing
chemicals
Prairie Ecology Bus, Lakefield $508 Buy new video splitter/amplifier & HDMI to composite converter
Dundee Community Club $700 For Ag Lime to recondition the softball field
Minnesota West, Jackson $700 Scholarship for Jackson or Martin County lineman student
JCC Special Ed Department $750 Toward new file system to modernize procedure
Reinbows Inc., Windom $750 Scholarships for four new day camp programs
Des Moines Valley Health & Human Svcs. $750 Provide smoke & carbon monoxide detectors for families in need
Family Services Network, Jackson $750 Toward back-to-school supplies for 250 students in the county
Jackson County Library $900 Hire Zooman for the summer reading program in 3 towns
City of Granada $1,000 Toward replacing emergency siren that no longer works
Dunnell-Lake Fremont Fire Dept. $1,062 For two new pagers replacing old ones that no longer work
Family Services Network, Jackson Co. $1,000 Buy coats & snow pants for children in need this fall
Jackson Fire Department $1,500 Toward new spare self-contained breathing apparatus
bottles
Des Moines Valley Health & Human Svcs $1,500 Help Federated members w/emergency energy assistance
Salvation Army’s Heatshare program $1,500 Help Federated members w/emergency energy assistance
Total $17,250
The Trust Board received 35 applications totaling $54,883 in this 51st round of funding. The Trust Board will meet again in the fall to determine the next round of funding. The deadline for submitting applications is September 30.
About 80 percent of Federated Rural Electric members participate in Operation Round Up. They allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill of $55.75 is rounded up to $56. The extra cents go to a special trust fund, which is administered by an independent trust board that consists of seven Federated members. Since the first round of funding in 1995, more than $691,000 has been awarded to local organizations and as high school scholarships.
“Operation Round Up is a way for members to help members,” said Marlys Runge, Federated’s Trust Board Chairman. “Just a few cents a month, when added with other members’ cents, can really add up and do some good in our communities. On the average, a member’s Round Up contributions amount to approximately $6 a year, which is tax-deductible.”
The Trust Board’s policy outlines project categories eligible for funding:
• community service (emphasis on public safety, health care and enhancement of cultural environment),
• community leadership programs,
• education and youth projects (social problems and wellness/athletics),
• environmental projects (recycling, environmental education and environmental ag research),
• emergency energy assistance funds to organizations for distribution and
• disaster relief.
Interested organizations may go to www.federatedrea.coop to download the application form and information, e-mail info@federatedrea.coop for an application or call 507-847-3520; ask for Andrea.
Federated is a Touchstone Energy cooperative serving 6,800 members in Jackson and Martin Counties.