Carroll White REMCs Operation Round Up Board of Trustees granted $13,500 to seven non-profits in the service territory. In the third quarter of this fiscal year, trustees allotted funds to help a variety of projects to benefit local communities.

SERVANTS AT WORK

The largest grant of $4,000 was awarded to Servants at Work. This organization coordinates and equips local volunteers to build ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps for low-income Hoosiers struggling to get in and out of their homes.

The ramps are built in less than six hours under the supervision of a trained Servants at Work project manager. Each ramp costs between $1,500 and $2,000 to build. These ramps are provided free to qualified clients. Currently, in White and Carroll Counties, there are eight clients on a wait list for this assistance.

The Operation Round Up grant will cover the non-labor construction costs of two to three ramps. Each ramp will reduce difficulty for clients getting in and out of their homes, minimize fear, increase access to community resources like medical care, and improve independence and quality of life, wrote grant writer Karl Duchmann.

MONTICELLO FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Three $2,000 grants were awarded this quarter. The Monticello First Presbyterian Church received funds to assist in providing shoes for needy children in White County. Grant writer Mike Rice said this annually assists in organizing this worthwhile project.

In 2024,81 pairs of shoes were distributed. Organizers purchase the shoes locally.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF PULASKI COUNTY

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County will use its $2,000 grant to assist in creating a high-quality childcare facility to serve Francesville and the surrounding area. In collaboration with other community organizations, the Foundation is helping transform the former Catholic Church by converting it into the first licensed childcare center in this area, which will be called Francevilles Caterpillar Corner.

The total project cost is $100,000, explained organizers. Currently, they have reached 32% of their goal. The Community Foundation established a Childcare Coalition with other early learning providers. Truly, its a village coming together to make this early learning center a reality, grant writer Leeann Wright wrote.

CARROLL COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT

The Carroll County Sheriffs Department will use Operation Round Ups $2,000 grant to help fund a new thermal drone (UAV). The thermal drone will assist in locating juveniles or elderly citizens who may have wandered off and need to be located.

The UAV can also be enlisted during a criminal investigation and support in disaster documentation, crash documentary, and tactical callouts.

Adding a second drone to our inventory will improve response time, wrote grant writer Spencer Kingery of the Carroll County Sheriffs Department. The newer drone will also support new software, camera, and better battery efficiency for longer flights.

Currently, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department employs three drone operators. These officers are certified Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) pilots who have completed and passed the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part-107 test and a 32-hour course with the Public Safety UAS.

THE CHILDRENS GARDEN OF CARROLL COUNTY

The Childrens Garden of Carroll County received a $1,500 grant. We have been working hard to supply our classrooms with all the tools for a safe environment and materials needed for a childs development, and now we can focus our efforts outdoors, wrote grant writer Samantha Miller.

The grant will assist in creating an outdoor environment that expands the learning and fun of the classrooms. The plans include mud kitchens, climbing equipment, and more options that foster imaginative play and improve motor skills.

The Childrens Garden Carroll County is a new early learning center located west of Flora on SR 19. Construction was completed in February 2025. The center was built to be a high-quality, affordable childcare facility in this rural community.

TOWN OF CAMDEN

The Town of Camden received a $1,500 grant to assist in purchasing two protective vests for the town police officers. Currently, Camden doesnt have vests, wrote grant writer Jill Hammond. The town has insufficient funds in the allotted police budget for both officers to have a vest. Since vests are fitted, they cannot be shared. Officers need to be able to carry out their responsibilities with ballistic protection, the grant stated.

LITTLE LAMB PRESCHOOL/CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH

Little Lamb Preschool/Crossroads Community Church in Bringhurst received a $500 grant to assist in helping their newly organized nonprofit preschool. We are seeking donations to help build our STEM toy options, wrote grant writer Deborah Foreman. Kids learn effectively by incorporating play-based learning into their day.

For more information about Operation Round Up or to apply for grants for your non-profit, visit us at cwremc.coop.