For the past 21 years, Operation Round Up has gathered more than $1 million in contributions from Kankakee Valley REMC member-consumers and redistributed it through grants to local organizations and scholarships. From day one, Gloria Field has played a key role in that process as a founding director for Operation Round Up. 

“I found the idea of being able to help people in our local communities intriguing,” Field recalled. “As a child, I was fascinated by stories of foreign missionaries. I married and raised five children, so my life took a different route. Serving on the Operation Round Up board gave me an outlet for helping people in need.”

In August, Field announced her retirement from the board and says she will miss her interactions with the other directors and the joy of presenting grant checks to worthy organizations. “Seeing how much the money meant to the organizations showed me that my time was well spent,” she said. “Kankakee Valley REMC was formed to help all of us, so we can give by being involved and making things better for everyone.”

The grandmother of 10 plans to spend time with her grandchildren, quilt, knit, read and solve Sudoku puzzles. We appreciate everything she’s done for Operation Round Up and the community and wish her and her family the best.