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Operation Round-Up and 2024 Grants

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FreeState’s Operation Round-Up program has been helping area organizations and communities for eight years. In that time, contributing members have assisted 119 organizations with $486,219 to make impacts in the communities we all call home.

Operation Round-Up is funded by donations from member-owners of FreeState Electric Cooperative who voluntarily round-up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. 

The FreeState Foundation Committee facilitates the program with the help of a volunteer member committee. Members on this committee meet to review and award grant monies quarterly. 

The volunteer member committee includes: MELINDA HARWOOD, McLouth; MORGAN STARCHER (Murrfield Farms), McLouth; DERON JOHNSON, Silver Lake; WAYNE SYLVESTER, Perry; MISTY STEPHENSON, Lawrence; and CAROL MARPLE, Wakarusa. The committee is looking for potential volunteers. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please contact the office. T

he committee allocations are made possible by the generosity of the members participating in the program. No matter how great or small the act, each time we give back, we strengthen our community. A few extra coins a month can quickly add up to a significant change for our local communities and volunteerdriven organizations across the FreeState service territory. 

“It’s so exciting to get the applications and get a peek into the good work planned or already happening in our communities,” said Elizabeth Miller, FreeState’s senior member services representative and Operation Round-Up program coordinator. “It gives our volunteers plenty to consider when distributing funds.” 

For more information or to apply for funding visit: www.freestate.coop/ORU. APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE MARCH 1, JUNE 1, SEPT. 1 AND DEC. 1 of each calendar year. 

If you would like to opt out (or in) of Operation Round-Up call our office at 800-794-1989. 

In 2024, Operation Round-Up made donations to the following 10 organizations totalling $38,752. These dollars provided funding to carry out the cooperative principle “Concern for Community” across FreeState’s nine-county service territory. We sincerely appreciate members who participate in this charitable giving program. We could not do what we do for our communities without you.

AUBURN PARKS PROJECT — $2,500 In Auburn, Kansas, their vision and mission is to help connect people and their motto is, “We are happy you are here!” The parks project will provide a permanent concrete cornhole game installation at the City Park. 

ROSSVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $5,000 The Rossville Community Foundation came to be in 2002 with the mission to build a new pool, and they continue to partner with other community projects to this day. They applied for funds to complete a mile long walking track. 

MCLOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY — $3,000 Funding will be used for a summer reading program for all ages. Something very magical can happen when you read a good book. 

USD 330 MISSION VALLEY — $5,000 Funding will be used for Mission Valley USD 330 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) LEGO® Robots. 

CAPPER FOUNDATION — $2,500 Since 1920, Capper Foundation has been changing lives of children, teens and adults with disabilities. Funds will be used for computer upgrades in all seven of their residential locations.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF NORTHEAST KANSAS — $5,000 Funds distributed to the Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas help support the basic needs of the Leavenworth Family Support Center. 

NORTONVILLE LIBRARY — $10,000 Funding for the Nortonville Public Library will be used to purchase a new circulation desk. 

TOPEKA COMMUNITY CAT FIX — $1,500 Funds will support the mission of the Topeka Community Cat Fix: to reduce and stabilize the over population of community cats living in Shawnee County through Trap-Neuter-VaccinateReturn (TNVR) programs. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY 4-H FOUNDATION — $2,000 Funds will support “Day on the Farm” activities for fourth grade students in Douglas County. 

DOVER COMMUNITY CENTER — $2,252 The Dover Community Center came to be in 2004 when USD 330 gave the building to the community. Funds will be used for the purchase of new lighting equipment that will then be installed by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) volunteers.