MiEnergy Cooperative members give $6,000 in local donations

Cresco, IA | Rushford, MN (8 a.m. April 20, 2022)— MiEnergy Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board met on March 17 and elected to donate $6,000 to the following local organizations:

• $1,000, City of Ostrander, Minn., to assist with purchasing new playground equipment for its city park.
• $1,000, Mabel Ambulance, Mabel, Minn., to help with the cost of upgrading outdated pagers.
• $1,000, Wilson Township Volunteer Fire Department, Winona, Minn., to support a program to help purchase smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers to give away locally to residents with homes lacking these safety devices.
• $900, Ridgeway Fire Department, Ridgeway, Iowa, to assist with purchasing replacement parts for a cascade system that refills air tanks.
• $750, Caledonia United Methodist Church, Caledonia, Minn., to purchase backpacks and school supplies for Houston County students as part of Helping Hands.
• $650, Firefighters of Elma, Inc., Elma, Iowa, to support building an addition to the fire station to provide space to add an ambulance service for the local area.
• $500, Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum, Decorah, Iowa, to help move a one-room schoolhouse to its site in Burr Oak.
• $200, Houston Holidazzle Park and Parade Committee, Houston, Minn., to purchase supplies to make new decorations and upgrade old ones.

Operation Round Up is funded by donations made by members of MiEnergy Cooperative who voluntarily have their electric bill round up to the next dollar. The average donation is $6 per year and 2,031 MiEnergy members participate.

The program is based on the idea that small change adds up. Currently, the program gives away approximately $12,000 each year to local organizations. 

The Operation Round Up Trust Board chooses where the funds get donated and the amount of the donation based on an application process. The trust board members include Neil Broadwater, of Winona; Beth George, of Houston; Roy Kryzer, of Lewiston; Janelle Mahr, of Lime Springs; Teresa Ross, of Hokah; Shannon Schmelzer, of Cresco; Perry-O Sliwa of Decorah; Tom Tibor, of Minnesota City; and Mike Tuohy, of Chatfield. 

Donations to Operation Round Up are tax deductible. Organizations receive grants through an application process. The next application deadline is August 15. To learn more about Operation Round Up or to round up your electric bill, visit www.MiEnergy.coop or call 1-800-432-2285.