Pictured above: Polk-Burnett employees volunteered for community service at Interfaith Caregivers of Burnett County October 9, splitting wood for local people who depend on it for heat. While there, they presented a $1,500 Operation Round Up grant to provide transportation assistance. Denny Blodgett of Interfaith Caregivers is pictured in center holding check. Thank you, co-op members, for rounding up to help Interfaith Caregivers. From heating homes to transportation assistance, accessibility ramps and Christmas for Kids, we're grateful for all the good they do in our community! Read on to see all fall grant winners.
Operation Round Up donates to 20 nonprofits that improve local quality of life
Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program awarded $16,500 to 20 local nonprofits in October. Fall grant recipients and projects that benefit include:
1. River Valley Hockey Association, $500, new dasher boards at outdoor rink
2. Centuria Public Library, $750, summer reading program
3. Osceola Wheels & Wings, $500, safety barricades and signs
4. Indianhead Chorus, $500, community performances in Amery and Barron
5. Friends of Amery Area Public Library, $750, racks for book sale
6. STAR Education Foundation, $1,500, food backpack program for St. Croix Falls students
7. Amery Area Food Pantry, $2,000, food and household supplies for community food pantry
8. Luck Community Education, $500, books and T-shirts for future Cardinals
9. Luck Senior Center, $500, carpet replacement
10. Wilberg Memorial Public Library, Osceola, $750, audio read-along children’s books
11. Webster Senior Center, $500, carpet replacement
12. Friends of the Larsen Family Public Library, Webster, $1,000, book giveaways for kids
13. St. Croix Valley Sexual Assault Response Team, $1,000, grade 6-12 education
14. Burnett Youth Hockey Association, $500, chiller system replacement
15. Amery High School Global Scholar & Spanish Club, $500, Versailles entrance fee
16. Interfaith Caregivers of Burnett County, $1,500, transportation assistance
17. Friends of St. Croix Falls Library, $750, monthly writing circles and reading series
18. West Denmark Woodland School, $1,000, family nature events
19. St. Croix Falls School District, $500, kindergarten playground equipment
20. Options on 8, $1,000, prenatal care, parenting and life skills education
“We are proud to support these vital organizations that improve our local quality of life,” said Polk-Burnett General Manager Steve Stroshane. “We’re grateful to our members for their participation in Operation Round Up; your generosity makes a difference to many programs and families in our community.”
Operation Round Up grants are donated by members of Polk-Burnett who round their monthly electric bill up to the next even dollar amount. The average monthly donation is 50 cents or $6 per year, which adds up to make a big impact. Operation Round Up grant recipients are selected quarterly by a board of co-op members.
Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a grant or co-op members who’d like to round their bill up in support of Operation Round Up may contact 800-421-0283 or our Operation Round Up webpage. The next application deadline is December 1.
Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up program presented a $1,500 grant to the STAR Education Foundation Oct. 10 to help fund weekend food backpacks for local students.
St. Croix Falls School District received a $500 grant from Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up program Oct. 10 to support new kindergarten playground equipment at the elementary school.
Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up program awarded a $1,000 grant to the Gift of Warm Clothing in July. These volunteers shopped all summer to prepare for a winter clothing distribution last weekend, Oct. 10 – 11, at Bone Lake Lutheran Church. The Gift of Warm Clothing has been helping our community stay warm with coats, boots, snow pants, hats, mittens and gloves for 20 years!
