JACKSON — The Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson, recognized local organizations receiving $28,420 through Operation Round Up.
These donations occur due to monthly contributions by participating Federated members. Twenty-six groups received money in this 57th round of funding, including:
- Sherburn Fire Department: $2,500 toward a new radio for a firefighter
- Jackson County Ag Society: $2,500 to buy 12 plastic picnic tables for the fairgrounds
- Rebuilding Together Minnesota: $2,000 to help low-income homeowners to pay for repairs to three to four homes in Jackson County
- Prairie Ecology Bus Center, Lakefield: $2,000 toward accessible raised garden beds
- Salvation Army: $2,000 for emergency energy assistance for in-need Federated members
- Jackson County Central Middle School ballfields, Lakefield; $1,700 to buy four trees, stakes and fertilizer and plant them with volunteer labor
- Red Rock Center for the Arts, Fairmont: $1,500 for Summer Art & Music camp for first through sixth grade students
- Des Moines Valley Health & Human Services: $1,500 for diapers for the Jackson County Baby Bundle program
- SWWC Foundation for Innovation in Education, Marshall: $1,000 for registration fees for students participating in knowledge bowl and the spelling bee
- Martin County West summer softball/baseball: $1,000 toward new bats and balls
- City of Lakefield park: $1,000 toward accessible playground equipment
- Delafield Diggers 4-H Club: $1,000 for canned hams for the Jackson County foodshelf Easter basket
- South Central EMS-CPR Heart Guard: $1,000 for new infant and adult mannequins for CPR training
- Jackson County Library System: $950 for Zoo Man summer reading programming at three county libraries
- Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention: $900 for the Martin County West Empower group to buy a 9-Square game for school events
- Heron Lake-Okabena Elementary Library, Heron Lake: $750 for new nonfiction book sets
- Minnesota West Scholarship, Jackson: $700 for a Jackson or Martin County line worker or electrician student
- Heritage Acres, Fairmont: $600 toward hiring a blacksmith for threshing day and harvest festival
- Des Moines Valley Health & Human Services: $540 for 36 baby gates for families in need in Jackson County
- Martin County West Elementary, Sherburn: $500 for art supplies for kindergarten through second grade
- Martin County West juniors and seniors, Sherburn: $500 for a virtual tour of Auschwitz
- Twin Valley Council for Boy Scouts of America, near Fairmont: $500 toward two new handwashing stations at Camp Cedar Point
- Martin County West Preschool, Sherburn: $500 toward art supplies
- Jackson Center for the Arts, Jackson: $500 for a laptop for the center and the local Farmers Market
- Rhythm of the River, Jackson: $370 for solar lighting for safety, plus a first aid kit
- Martin County West Middle School, Trimont: $310 for fifth and sixth graders' personal supplies, such as deodorant and menstrual pads
- Jackson County Central High School Media Center, Jackson: $100 for new board games
The city of Lakefield park received $1,000 from Operation Round Up through the Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson. The money will go toward playground equipment for those with disabilities. Alyssa Anderson accepted the check. Photo courtesy of the Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson
The Trust Board received 32 applications totaling $46,003 in this 57th 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 Sept. 22.
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. For example, a bill of $55.75 is rounded up to $56.
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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 $895,000 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."
Project categories eligible for funding are:
- 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 visit federatedrea.coop to download the application form and information, email info@federatedrea.coop for an application or call (507) 847-3520 and ask for Andrea.
Federated is a Touchstone Energy cooperative serving 6,900 members in Jackson and Martin Counties.
The Trust Project
