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Committed to Community

December 19, 2024

Cooperative’s ‘My Co-op Cares’ and Operation Round Up^® Programs

As an electric Cooperative, Stearns Electric values our local communities and commits to giving back annually. Two ways we do that are through the Operation Round Up® and ‘My Co-op Cares’ programs. 

OPERATION ROUND UP® DISTRIBUTES $72,850 IN NOVEMBER
The Stearns Electric Association Trust Board met on Wednesday, October 30 to award funds through the Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® (ORU) program. They distributed $72,850 to 62 local organizations and charitable causes. This included donations to Central Minnesota’s 19 food shelves and 10 area holiday gift-giving organizations.

Through the ORU program, members of the Cooperative round up their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar. The rounded-up funds (between 1¢ and 99¢) are placed in a trust fund that is administered by the Trust Board.

Any local non-profit organization or charitable cause can apply for funding. The next deadline is Friday, February 28, 2025. 

Visit stearnselectric.org/community-impact/community/operation-round-up/ to learn more.

TRUST BOARD NOMINATIONS OPEN IN DISTRICTS 4, 6 AND 7
Nominations for the ORU Trust Board are open for members in Districts 4, 6 and 7. Applications are available for interested individuals on our website, stearnselectric.org, and are due Friday, January 10, 2025. Trust Board Directors are elected to serve one, three-year term and can serve two consecutive terms.

Call our ORU staff liaison at (800) 962-0655 during regular business hours with any questions.

EMPLOYEES PREP AND SERVE MEALS AT PLACE OF HOPE THROUGH ‘MY CO-OP CARES’
In November, eight Stearns Electric Association employees volunteered at Place of Hope in St. Cloud, preparing and serving lunch. Employee volunteers packaged nearly 70 meals that were delivered off-site, then served lunch to those in-person.

“Serving meals was an eye-opening experience. It was humbling to see that there are people who have different hardships in life that they have to overcome,” Jeff Miller, employee volunteer said.

“We heard a lot of nice thank you’s and it was great doing something for others,” Kate Uphus, employee volunteer, added.

The ‘My Co-op Cares’ program allows Cooperative employees time to volunteer during working hours to help communities and organizations within our service territory. Three times per year, Stearns Electric sends teams of employees out to local organizations and charitable causes.

“There is so much need in our community and surrounding area. It is amazing when people can see that businesses recognize that need and do something about it…contributing time, talent and treasure,” Joan Scherping, employee volunteer, said.

“Volunteering through this program is a great way to see other employees and visit and interact with some I don’t see often, especially from the other office,” Uphus continued.

To learn more about the Cooperative’s commitment to community and other community outreach programs, visit: stearnselectric.org/community.