MiEnergy Cooperative members give $8,100 in local donations

Cresco, IA | Rushford, MN (6:45 a.m. Oct. 10, 2024)— MiEnergy Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Trust Board met recently and elected to donate $8,100 to the following local organizations:

$1,500, Fort Atkinson Firefighters Association, Fort Atkinson, Iowa, to purchase a remote-control water gun for the quick attack truck.
$1,170, Hokah Lions Club, Hokah, Minn., to replace picnic tables and benches at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
$1,000, Mabel/Newburg United Methodist Church, Mabel, Minn., for Mabel-Canton K-2 teachers to purchase books for their students.
$1,000, Mabel Public Library, Mabel, Minn., to update public computer technology.
$930, Caledonia Fire Department, Caledonia, Minn., to purchase an emergency plug to shut down electric/hybrid vehicles.
$750, Riceville Food Pantry, Riceville, Iowa, to restock food supplies.
$600, Lanesboro Arts, Lanesboro, Minn., to repair and restock the Little Free Art Library.
$550, Winneshiek County Conservation, Fort Atkinson, Iowa, to purchase equipment for its ice fishing education program.
$350, Preston Emergency Services, Preston, Minn., for individual clip-on carbon monoxide gas detectors.
$250, Quilters for Veterans, Castalia, Iowa, for supplies to make quilts for veterans.

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, 2,300 MiEnergy members participate and 100% of the funds generated are granted to local organizations.

The program is based on the idea that small change adds up. Currently, the program gives approximately $16,000 each year to local organizations.

The Operation Round Up Trust Board, made up of MiEnergy members, 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; Dan Dietzenbach, of Fort Atkinson; Beth George, of Houston; Roy Kryzer, of Lewiston; Dennis Ostwinkle, of Decorah; Teresa Ross, of Hokah; 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 February 15. To learn more about Operation Round Up or to round up your electric bill, click here.