Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A few pennies every month can mean major funding for local groups and charities.
Kosciusko REMC's Operation Round Up allows members to "round up" their utility bills, and the extra cents are deposited in a fund at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
"It's a way of helping groups out," said Larry Easterday, the REMC's director of marketing and member communications. "An advisory committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Community Foundation.
"The money can be used for a specific project or used in an emergency situation. For example, if a family's house burns down and they lost everything, the fund can provide temporary shelter and emergency food.
"It is not used to pay electrical bills."
While the idea is new here, Easterday said other REMCs have had such a program for years, especially in rural communities where funds can be long in coming.
In effect for the last four months, Easterday said participating Kosciusko REMC members donate several thousand dollars per month.
Other than getting the word out through printed materials, REMC isn't donating any money to Operation Round Up.
Members were asked to call REMC if they did not want to participate. People who forgot to call and found their routinely rounded up payments going to the fund instead can have a full refund, Easterday said.
Programs or circumstances that may be considered include:
Support for emergency services, assistance to individuals for emergency relief;
Support for capital expenses for community projects and services, like facility repairs, public park areas or capital equipment for emergency service providers;
And challenge grants and seed money for community program development such as: fine arts and cultural activities, library programs, educational programs, youth development services, senior adult services and programs to meet the needs of under-served populations.
For more information or to receive a grant application, call Kosciusko REMC, 267-6331, or 800-790-7262, e-mail: mail@kosciuksoremc.com
The Kosciusko County Community Foundation's telephone number is 267-1901.
On the net: www.kosciuksoremc.com, www.kcfoundation.org
