Nonprofits throughout eastern Kansas that serve community members in need will soon receive a total of $45,000 in contributions from Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative members through Heartland’s Operation Round Up program.
“It’s always impressive to see what a difference our members can make by contributing just a little bit of change every month,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO. “We continue to be proud of our board and our members for helping the neediest in their communities through this program.”
Through Operation Round Up, Heartland consumer-members’ electric bills are rounded up to the next dollar each month. The additional amount is collected and pooled into a fund for distribution to charitable organizations that provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and other direct services for those in need.
Funds collected through the Operation Round Up program are administered by a panel of volunteer trustees selected by the Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors from throughout Heartland’s 12-county service area.
Applications were accepted in November 2022 and reviewed by the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees at its annual meeting on December 12.
Current Operation Round Up trustees include Tom Bradbury of Bronson, Rev. Daniel Davis of Iola, Nancy Hurd of Columbus, Kathryn Harrington of Fort Scott, Pam Schmitz of Mound City, Mark Taylor of Girard, Ernest Troth of Mound City, and Sharon Young of Erie.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas manages Operation Round Up contributions and disburses funds on behalf of Heartland.
Grant recipients for 2023 are listed below in alphabetical order. Each will receive between $1,000 and $2,000 in January 2023.
- A Meal in His Name - Girard
- Alliance of Churches for Christian Living - Chanute
- Centerville Community Church - Blue Mound
- Concern, Inc. - Mound City
- Elsmore United Methodist Church
- Erie Federated Church
- Erie Ministerial Alliance
- First Baptist Church - Chanute
- First Baptist Church - Pleasanton
- First Baptist Church - Riverton
- First Baptist Church of Cherokee
- First Christian Church - Pleasanton
- First Presbyterian Church Sunday Soups - Iola
- Girard Community Food Pantry
- Helping Hands & Hearts Food Pantry - Parker
- Hope Chest - Baxter Springs
- Hope Unlimited Inc. - Iola
- Humboldt Community Food Pantry
- LaCygne Library
- Manna Depot - Columbus
- Mound City United Methodist Church
- Orange Swan Free Store - Erie
- Reach Out Food Pantry - Prescott
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Mound City
- Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging - Chanute
- United Women in Faith - Pleasanton
- Wings of Warriors – Gas