Operation Round Up
When you signed up for electric service from United Cooperative Services, you became a member of an electric cooperative, not just another electric utility. More than 65 years ago, cooperatives around the nation pitched in and helped bring electric power to homes in rural America. Some dug holes, others pulled wire and some hauled poles.
In the spring of 1998, your cooperative chose to continue that tradition of "members helping members" in a program called Operation Round Up. With just a few pennies per month, United members can make a major difference in the lives of fellow United members. Your contributions (only about $6 per year) will go to help other United members... and only United members.
Many cooperatives around the country have already implemented this program. When United signed up as a Round Up partner, it became the 100th cooperative to participate in this program. The ways in which we assist other members include:
- Repairing heating and air-conditioning equipment
- Providing equipment for the handicapped
- Donating life support equipment
- Providing assistance for those in dire circumstance
- Assisting with electric bills
- Assisting with medical bills
- Providing staple food items
- Covering prescription medicine
- riding scholarships to All Star Equestrian,
- disbursements to Community Hospice,
- facility upgrades and scholarships for Camp Fire USA/Camp El Tesoro La Vida,
- board grants to CASA of Johnson and Erath counties,
- reimbursement of services for United members utilizing Cancer Care Services,
- building grants for Habitat for Humanity
- donations to several Meals on Wheels organizations.
- Angel Tree
- Camp El Tesoro La Vida
- Cancer Care Services of Johnson, Hood and Tarrant counties
- Christmas Express for Children
- Christmas in April
- Cleburne Head Start
- Community Hospice of Texas
- Disabled Crime Victim's Assistance, Inc.
- Erath County Child Welfare Board
- Goodfellows/Kings Daughters
- Habitat for Humanity
- Harvest House - Christmas Tree for Kids
- Hood County Christmas for Children, Inc.
- Johnson County Child Welfare Board
- Keene Kares
- National Child Identification
- North Bosque Helping Hands
- Possum Kingdom Chamber - Angel Tree Program
- Rainbow Rooms in Bosque, Erath, Hood, Somervell and Johnson counties
- Ruth's Place
- Safe at Home
- Salvation Army Angel Tree
- Santa's Helpers - Alvarado
- Spirit of Sharing/Field Street Baptist Church
- Toys for Tots - Optimist Club Stephenville
- Vial of Life
- Wings of Hope
These are just a few ways of helping members with your "change."
Major grants for 2004 and 2005 have included
In another major donation program, Operation Round Up assisted 28 volunteer fire departments across the area in 2004 with grants for bunker gear, communications equipment, handheld radios, EMS supplies, tools and miscellaneous firefighting equipment. Similar grants continue to issued in 2005 and more than 50 local volunteer fire departments have received aid in the last three years.
Also, in continuing with the ElderCare program, Operation Round Up funds were used to purchase A/C window units, box fans and portable heaters for elderly members in need.
Finally, in the last three years, Operation Round Up funds were used to assist the following charities:
The funds originate from rounding a United member's bill up to the nearest dollar amount. For instance, if a member's bill is $67.63, it would be rounded up to $68.00 with the additional 37 cents going to Operation Round Up. Texas Neighborhood Services administers the program for United members. The funds provide financial help to worthy causes in our area by combining your small monthly contribution with those from fellow co-op members.
Only one residential meter per month will be rounded up. If you choose not to participate in the United's Operation Round Up program, please contact us and we will make sure your bill is not rounded up.
Join with your friends, neighbors and United in Operation Round Up. Together we can change lives.
