Do you contribute to Operation Round Up with your bill each month?
If you’re part of the nearly 80% of members who do, thank you for starting 2025 off right with your donation, which will support many organizations throughout the year.
For those who need a refresher, LaGrange County REMC’s Operation Round Up program allows members to round up their electric bills each month. This money is then put into a fund and given back locally through community grants each quarter.
You may think it’s just a bit of extra change, but to the nonprofit organizations who receive these grants, it’s so much more. It’s more than $715,000, since the program began.
The first quarter distribution of Operation Round Up funding included:
LaGrange County Parks, which was awarded $2,500 to help provide children’s games, horse-drawn wagon rides and demonstrations at its Maple Syrup Days on March 15-16. With the grant, the Parks department can offer the fun and educational activities free of charge to the public.
Prairie Heights Helping Hands, was granted $2,500 to go toward paying for meals for students who cannot cover the cost every day. Due to federal regulations, they cannot use school funds to cover those costs and must rely on donations and grants.
Junior Achievement of LaGrange County, which was awarded $3,000 to increase financial literacy. JA will use the money to support its BizTown and Finance Park programs for 674 students in grades fifth through 12th across Lakeland Intermediate, Lakeland Jr/Sr High School, Westview Jr/Sr High School and Prairie Heights Middle School.
ARK Animal Rescue and Adoption, was granted $1,000 to help offset the costs associated with the purchase of a comprehensive new heating and cooling system for the shelter. The organization planned on taking in more than 450 dogs in 2024 and its floor heating has become inadequate during the colder months.
For local nonprofit organizations who are seeking funding for a project, please fill out and return an application to the LaGrange County REMC office by Tuesday, April 1, to be considered for the next round of Operation Round Up disbursements. Applications can be downloaded from the REMC website, lagrangeremc.com.
