Nonprofits throughout eastern Kansas that serve community members in need will soon receive a total of $50,000 in contributions from Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative members through Heartland’s Operation Round Up program.
“With the rising costs of everyday essentials, we’re pleased to assist these organizations in helping those who need it most,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO.
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 October and November 2024 and reviewed by the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees at its annual meeting on December 6.
Current Operation Round Up trustees include Kelly Perry and Tom Bradbury of Bronson, Rev. Daniel Davis of Iola, Nancy Hurd of Columbus, Pam Schmitz of Mound City, Mark Taylor of Girard, Sue Stainbrook of Fontana, 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 2025 are listed below in alphabetical order. Each will receive between $800 and a little over $2,000 in January 2025.
- Alliance of Churches for Christian Living (Chanute)
- Beacon Food Pantry (Fort Scott)
- Bourbon County Core Community
- Care to Share Cancer Support Group
- Centerville Community Church
- Columbus Christian Center - Manna Depot
- Community Food Pantry (Girard)
- Concern, Inc. (Mound City)
- Elsmore United Methodist Church
- Erie Area Community Christmas Basket Fund
- Erie Federated Church
- First Assembly of God Baxter Springs – Hope Chest
- First Baptist Church (Cherokee)
- First Baptist Church (Pleasanton)
- First Baptist Church (Riverton)
- First Christian Church (Pleasanton)
- First Christian Church Chanute – God’s Pantry
- First Presbyterian Church Sunday Soups (Iola)
- First United Methodist Church (Columbus)
- Friends of Library District #2 of Linn Co. (LaCygne)
- Galesburg Christian Church - Orange Swan Free Store
- Hope Unlimited (Iola)
- Humanity House Foundation (Iola)
- Humboldt Community Food Pantry
- Mound City Christian Church – Christian Women’s Service
- Mound City United Methodist Church
- Parker United Methodist Church – Helping Hands & Hearts
- Prescott United Methodist Church - Reach Out Food Pantry
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Mound City)
- Second Chances (Blue Mound)
- St. Michael Catholic Church – A Meal In His Name (Girard)
- United Women in Faith (Pleasanton)
- Wings of Warriors (Iola)