(Jackson, MN) — The Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson, recognized local organizations receiving $20,984 through Operation Round Up. These donations occur due to monthly contributions by participating Federated members. 29 groups received money in this 58th round of funding:
Human Services of Faribault & Martin Co. $225 Buy 25 Love & Logic Way parenting workbooks
JCC Ag Department $250 Fund 18 students with OSHA 10 work-based training certification
MCW Speech Department $400 Speechwire software used for speech meets
HL-O Family Career Community Leaders of America Circuit machine to make student display boards
HL-O Elementary Special Education $478 Five flexible wobble chairs & set of alphabet cards
MCW Trimont Elementary $500 Toward pickleball paddles/balls for grades 3-6 phy ed classes
HL-O Agriculture Program $500 Kitchen tools to demo taking raw ingredients to make products
Jackson County Riverbend Quilters $500 Toward professional quilting of quilts made for veterans
Alano Society, Fairmont $500 toward coffee, toiletry/paper supplies & sanitizer for meetings
Ruby’s Pantry, Sherburn $500 toward an electric pallet jack for food distribution
Helping Hands, Ceylon $500 toward new park equipment in Mondale Park
Beautiful Inside & Out (BIO) Girls $500 Scholarships for JCC girls in grades 2-6 mentoring program
JCC Discovery Place Preschool/ECFE $569 Seating for reading area & removable wall-mount ball hoop
Caregiver Response Effort & Service Team $600 For informational mailings & printing of brochures
Southwest West Central Service Cooperative $669 Buy Blaze Pods for JCC special ed student training tools
HL-O H.S. Family & Consumer Science $700 10 new stools for higher classroom tables
HL-O Robotics $750 Additional kit/materials for a third team to compete
Fairmont High School Robotics $750 Toward control system and swerve motors/controller
Jackson Co. Animal Protection Society, Jackson $800 For microchipping scanner, vaccination/spray/neutering
JCC H.S. Shop Class $848 Rockler router table for wood shop for students
St. James Lutheran School, Northrop $995 Replace failed 8-year-old weather station to teach about weather
SW Crisis Center, Worthington $1,000 Program supplies & personal need items
Family Services Network, Jackson $1,000 Buy coats & snow pants for families in need
Truman Public Schools, Ag Dept. $1,000 For Ag Centric Technology Trailer for K-12 hands-on learning
Martin County Historical Society, Fairmont $1,000 Scan 1,850 cardboard mount slides for digitizing/preservation
HL-O Elementary $1,000 Roller skate rentals for phy ed classes
Des Moines Valley Health & Human Svcs$1,000 20 car seats for low-income households
Ceylon Fire Department $1,500 Toward new portable radio replacing failing old one
HL-O H.S. Industrial Tech Program $1,500 Toward a new welder replacing one that quit working
Total $20,984
The Trust Board received 34 applications totaling $63,023 in this 58th round of funding. The Trust Board will meet again in the spring to determine the next round of funding. The deadline for submitting applications is February 1.
About 76 percent of Federated Rural Electric members participate in Operation Round Up. They allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. 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, nearly $903,000 has been awarded to local organizations and as high school scholarships.
“Operation Round Up is a way for members to help members,” said Stuart Smart, 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 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.