Past Sharing Success Recipients
Ronald McDonald House Charities of NEK
Douglas County CASA
Doxazo Ministries Youth Camp
Just Food, Inc. - Lawrence
Stull UMC - Rural Food and Clothes Pantry
F.W. Huston Medical Center - Winchester
FreeState Electric Cooperative’s 80 employees and nine trustees rallied to raise $7,500 that was matched by the cooperative’s primary lender, CoBank. The effort is part of an annual internal donation drive that assists local nonprofit organizations and raised a total of $15,000 for F.W. Huston Medical Center in Winchester.
The “Sharing Success” program matches employee donations dollar-for-dollar and is then presented to the nonprofit organization of the cooperative’s choosing.
“The CoBank match has helped us reach out and assist local non-profits like F.W. Huston for the past eight years,” said FreeState CEO, Steve Foss. “As a cooperative, we are member focused and vested in our communities and those we serve. This is exactly what our cooperative mission is all about.”
FreeState’s trustees selected F.W. Huston after an application process. The board determined the medical center to be the designated organization in June and the trustees challenged employees to donate throughout the summer. On August 29, Jeanine Murphy, president of the board and Foss, met employees at the Winchester facility to present the check.
“Thank you for what you do,” said Murphy to the gathered crowd. “You provide a vital service to this community and the surrounding area and for that, you should be commended. Today we’re here to present this donation that will help you continue with your mission.”
Murphy added, “It is my pleasure to present you this check for $15,000.”
The donation size, which was unknown by F.W. Huston, was a shock – a good one, that instigated a few tears in the crowd.
“This gift is more than we ever anticipated. The generosity shown to us by FreeState employees, trustees, and CoBank has blown us away,” said Melody Keirns, director of human resources and community relations. “As a not-for-profit our profits are reinvested into our facility and employing 160 people so there are not always funds left over to purchase new equipment.”
“This gift will go a long way in helping us purchase updated medical equipment that will help our organization give continued and quality care for our patients,” Keirns added. “Our gratitude is endless.”
The gift from FreeState will be used campus-wide with specific funds earmarked for equipment upgrades for vital signs, exams and therapies, computers, kitchen items, thermometers, bladder scanner, wheelchairs, and bedside tables. F.W. Huston has provided services to Jefferson County for the past 60 years and does not receive tax support, but instead relies on private donations and grants like this to continually provide quality care.
“Today we have been deeply touched by the generosity of FreeState Electric Cooperative, its employees and lending partner, CoBank,” said LaMont Cook, F.W. Huston CEO. “With immense gratitude, the F.W. Huston Medical Center Board of Directors and employees thank you for your kind and needed financial gift.”
"We are blessed to live and work in a great place, with thoughtful helping people and many hardworking community partners,” Cook added. “We treat this gift as sacred and will use it to the betterment of those we serve as we work to help people live life well.”
FreeState has participated in the Sharing Success program for the past eight years and has made impactful donations to local organizations throughout the FreeState service territory. For more information visit https://freestate.coop/SharingSuccess
God's Storehouse, Meriden
FreeState Electric Cooperative’s 81 employees and 11 trustees rallied to raise more than $5,000 that was matched by the cooperative’s primary lender, CoBank. The effort is part of the annual employee donation drive that assists local nonprofit organizations and raised a total of $10,144 for God’s Storehouse in Meriden.
CoBank’s “Sharing Success” program matches employee donations dollar-for-dollar and is then presented to the nonprofit organization of the cooperative’s choosing.
“CoBank is committed to making rural America stronger,” said Seth Hart, vice president, CoBank Electric Distribution Division Rural Infrastructure Banking Group. “One way to achieve that commitment is with the Sharing Success program that allows our members to gain access to funding that will help the communities in which they serve.”
FreeState’s trustees selected God’s Storehouse after an application process. The board determined the food pantry to be the designated organization in June and the trustees challenged employees to donate throughout the summer.
“We’re a member service organization and vested in the communities and customers we serve,” said Jeanine Murphy, President of the FreeState board. “This is exactly what our cooperative mission is all about.”
Area food pantries have seen requests rise over the past years and with the holiday season approaching, an increase in need is often seen. Last year, the pantry served 2,250 adults and 3,071 children. Monetary and food donations are how the pantry operates, and the assistance from FreeState will not only purchase items for those in need. Some of the funding will be used to help build a road to access the facility.
“The property was sold next to us, so we were no longer able to utilize that road,” said Beverly Henry, the organization’s treasurer. “This funding will help us build the road, in addition to purchasing food, and provide for our Christmas family adoption.”
FreeState has participated in the Sharing Success program for the past seven years and has made impactful donations to local organizations throughout the FreeState service territory.