Cohasset, Minn. – Through the contributions of Lake Country Power's participating members, the Operation Round Up® Trust Board recently approved $28,900 in assistance to local community programs during its quarterly meeting.

The cooperative’s Trust Board reviewed and considered 19 grant applications and distributed funds to 17 projects and programs this past quarter – a significant drop in the number of applications. Since the program’s inception in October 2004, more than $2.5 million has been distributed to community-based projects and programs.

The TWC Caring Program of Wright, Minn., received $3,000 toward its efforts to see that children from low-income families receive Christmas presents this year. In 2019, the program, formerly known as Christmas Caring Program, helped 75 children experience an exciting Christmas with presents to open. The program also helped an elderly couple pay their heating bill. The number of requests is expected to increase this year due to the impacts of COVID-19.

“We’ve been worried because the donation jars are way down this year because COVID is affecting so many families with unemployment in our area,” said Pam Issendorf, volunteer treasurer for TWC Caring Program. “This helps us stop and take a breath right now, so I thank you so much for the wonderful help.” 

The TWC Caring Program reaches the communities of Tamarack, Wright and Cromwell. If people are interested in giving, donations can be made through the Northview Bank in Cromwell. The program’s goal is to become a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization so it can expand its community assistance beyond Christmas time. 

All funds generated through Operation Round Up are set aside in a trust fund. A voluntary Trust Board of nine co-op members administers the Trust. Of the funds collected through the program, 100 percent is distributed to charitable organizations through an application and selection process. The trust board uses special guidelines and policies when choosing recipients.

Most Recent Recipients

• Town of Embarrass

• TWC Caring Program for children

• Serenity Place

• Tower Soudan Civic Club/Operation Santa

• Story Portage book club

• Tower Soudan Historical Society

• Deer River Area Food Shelf

• Cloquet Area Hockey Association

• Project Care Free Clinic

• Reif Arts Council

• ElderCircle multigenerational community garden

• ElderCircle Home Visitor Program

• Fishing with Vets

• Gilbert Public Library

• Ely Winter Festival

• Ely Artwalk

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul/neighbors in need

Operation Round Up® is a charitable program unique to electric co-ops, which is designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects by “rounding up” member’s electric bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation of each participating Lake Country Power member is less than $6 annually.

Among Lake Country Power’s 43,000 members, nearly 64 percent of all active electric accounts participate in the program through voluntary contributions. Interested members can opt into the Operation Round Up program by calling the cooperative at 800-421-9959 or using an online form at lakecountrypower.coop.

Applications are available online at www.lakecountrypower.coop (My Cooperative > Community > Operation Round Up®). The next application deadline is November 15.