Employees of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative presented a $1,500 Operation Round Up grant to volunteers at Feed My Neighbor Food Pantry in Centuria July 5. The donation will help purchase a refrigerator and freezer for the new food pantry. It was opened in March by three local churches serving Centuria, Milltown and Balsam Lake communities. The food pantry serves all Polk County residents. It’s located next to the Centuria Post Office and is open Monday 2 to 5 p.m., Tuesday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday 9 to 11 a.m.

Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program donated $28,925 to 26 local nonprofits in July. The money will help support community food shelves, local historical societies, youth, families and senior citizens.

Grant recipients are selected quarterly by a committee of co-op members, with financial donations awarded to nonprofit organizations that enrich our local quality of life. Funding for Operation Round Up is donated by members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative who round their monthly electric bill up to the next even dollar amount. Since 1998, Operation Round Up has given more than $1 million to local nonprofits.

“We thank our members for their participation and generosity,” said Polk-Burnett General Manager Steve Stroshane. “Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative is proud to support our community through Operation Round Up, according to our cooperative principles.”

Summer Operation Round Up grant recipients are:
1. Amery Area Food Pantry, $1,500, distribution of food, household items and personal care items
2. Sterling, Eureka, Laketown Historical Society, $750, convert historical materials to digital files
3. St. Croix Falls Police K9 Association, $1,000, training and supplies for K9 program
4.  Arnell Memorial Humane Society $1,000, veterinary care for pets at shelter
5. St. Croix Falls Wrestling Booster Club, $500, equipment, uniforms, transportation for athletes
6. Home and Away Ministries, Ruby’s Pantry, $1,000, security cameras
7. Osceola Elementary School, $1,000, sensory light table for pre-K classroom
8. Centuria Public Library, $1,000, summer reading program for youth
9. Unity Future Business Leaders of America, $500, support students at national competition
10. Northwest Passage, $1,225, fishing poles and tackle for youth residents
11. Luck Schools, Family and Consumer Science, $500, replace silverware, glasses, bakeware
12. Amery Women’s Club, $1,000, books for Amery second graders for Read Across America
13. Interfaith Caregivers of Burnett County, $1,500, residential wheelchair ramps
14. Frederic Senior Community Center, $1,000, internet-connected TV and sound bar
15. Polk County Historical Society, $1,000, UV protection for museum windows
16. Feed My Neighbor Community Food Pantry, $1,500, refrigerator and freezer
17. Kinship of Polk County, $1,500, youth mentor program
18. Moms and Dads Against Meth, $1,500, Butterfly House, a sober transitional residence for women
19. AYSO Region 1437 Soccer, St. Croix Falls area, $500, field rental and equipment
20. Amery Area Historical Society, $1,000, update and reprint Amery centennial publication
21. Youth of Burnett County, $950, display booth for community events
22. Grantsburg Area Historical Society, $1,000, replace rain gutters on museum building
23. St. Croix Valley Orchestra, $1,000, equipment and supplies, such as music stands and folders
24. Family Pathways, $3,000, $1,500 to Frederic food shelf, $1,500 to St. Croix Falls food shelf
25. Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity, $1,500, home construction and home repairs in Webster area
26. Amery Area Community Center, $1,000, replace freezer

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 visit our Operation Round Up webpage. The next application deadline is September 1.

Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up donated $1,000 to help the Frederic Senior Community Center purchase a new internet TV. The center is located next to the Frederic Fire Department and is open Monday afternoons for Scrabble, Tuesday mornings for coffee and Thursday afternoons for cards. The facility is also available for rent for $50 per day, 715-327-8623. Pictured L-R are Operation Round Up Director Elvira Schmidt, Polk-Burnett Propane General Manager Todd Miller, Senior Center Board President Laryn Larson, Frederic Community Education Director Sheila Beecroft, and Senior Center Board Treasurer Dave Peterson.