During the holiday season, generosity can be found in many different places and in many different ways.

Whether it’s helping someone cross the street, shoveling a neighbor’s snowy sidewalk or serving meals for those in need, there’s always a way to give back.

At Noble REMC, we’re fortunate to have members who choose to give back throughout the year through our Operation Round Up program.

More than 80 percent of our members allow us to round up their bills every month, equaling about $6 a year for each household. While that may not sound like a lot, when you put all those pennies into a charitable trust, it adds up.

Then our volunteer board of directors awards the funds to nonprofit, community-based organizations in Noble, DeKalb and adjoining counties each quarter, benefiting the communities to which our members and the cooperative belong.

In the latest distribution of the Noble REMC Operation Round Up Trust, totaling more than $11,500, we were able to give back to local schools and food banks, including:

• Noble House Ministries, $1,500, adult parent program
• McMillen Health, $1,000, preventative health education program
• Boomerang Backpacks, Inc., $1,500, backpack food supplies
• Smith-Green Community Schools, $1,000, 4-H livestock judging team
• West Noble Primary School, $500, Guys Night Out program
• East Noble Band Boosters, $1,000, uniforms
• Central Noble Elementary School, $700, JA BizTown program
• Smith-Green Community Schools, $2,460, FFA and ag welding shop equipment
• Emmanuel Lutheran Church, $1,000, non-food items
• Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc., $1,000, Noble County Farm Wagon

To be considered for the next cycle of disbursements, local nonprofit organizations are encouraged to fill out and return an application to the Noble REMC office by Jan. 2, 2020.

Applications are available now at the Noble REMC office in Albion or can be downloaded from nobleremc.com, under “Programs.”