Three of the local organizations which applied to the Co-op’s Operation RoundUp Trust for a donation and were awarded funds in spring were Common Cup Ministry for it’s new Thrift Store in Glencoe, Sibley County Food Share Inc, and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce for Arli-Dazzle event support.
Common Cup Ministry received a $1,500 donation from Operation RoundUp earlier in the year for startup expenses of opening a thrift store in Glencoe. The store is located at 712 11th St E (next to Snap Fitness) in Glencoe. It is open 10 AM to 4 PM Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and also 10 AM to 1 PM the first and third Saturdays of the month. Funds raised from the sale of items support programs like weekend backpack feeding, winter coat distribution, school supply distribution, monthly diaper distribution, emergency funding for rent/utilities/food/gas. The mission of Common Cup Ministry is to gather and share spiritual and financial resources of area churches into one “Common Cup” so that they may minister to those in need.
Sibley County Food Share received $2,000 to help distribute food to people in need of assistance. A donation from Operation RoundUp helped to purchase perishable items like meat and items in short supply. The food shelf is located in Gaylord.
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce received $1,000 to assist with the cost of non-activity related items for Arli-Dazzle, such as porta-potties, safety essentials such as light towers from fire departments and traffic and safety manpower, propane heaters, food for volunteers, etc. Arli-Dazzle is an annual winter day in Arlington filled with music, educational and fun entertainment, and the lighted parade. Last year the event also hosted dog sled demonstrations, ice carvers, Victorian holiday caroling, reindeer, the Amazing Hoopsters, and old-fashioned 1860’s baseball game, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a vintage snowmobile show, a 5K race, fireworks, music, food vendors, outdoor fish house camp, a quilt show, and a raffle event.
Bob Thomes, who coordinates many of the community development activities for McLeod Co-op Power, was glad that the members of McLeod Co-op Power who round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar were able to help fund these projects. Participation in Operation RoundUp helps so many local, community organizations get projects fully funded.
It is probably the easiest tax-deductible donation you could make. Just complete the coupon on this page and return it with your bill. After that, your electric bill will always be rounded to the nearest even dollar amount. If your bill is$ 148.77, you will be billed $149.00. That 23 cents change goes to Operation RoundUp. Together with other member’s change and payroll donations from MCPA employees, it multiplies into a larger amount. Then the Co-op tries to get matching funds from other sources to increase it further.
Your annual donation prints right on your electric bill and is your tax-deductible receipt. The average donation is $6.00 per year from one account. The maximum is $11.88 per year per account. Some generous MCPA members, who have multiple electric accounts, chose to sign up more than one account to be rounded up.
The result of participation is MCPA’s Operation RoundUp Trust can help many local organizations with worthy projects to improve our communities in McLeod, Sibley, Renville and Carver Counties.
Sign up today to round up your electric bill and help your neighbors in need