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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. They
ways in which we assist other members include:
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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
These are just a few ways of helping members with your
"change."
Major grants for 2004 and 2005 have included
-
riding scholarships
to All Star Equestrian,
-
disbursements to
Community Hospice,
-
facility upgrades and
scholarships for Camp Fire USA/Camp El Tesoro La Vida,
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board grants to CASA
of Johnson and Erath counties,
-
reimbursement of
services for United members utilizing Cancer Care Services,
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building grants for
Habitat for Humanity
-
donations to several
Meals on Wheels organizations.
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:
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Angel Tree
-
Camp El Tesoro La
Vida
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Cancer Care Services
of Johnson, Hood and Tarrant counties
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Christmas Express for
Children
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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
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North Bosque Helping
Hands
-
Possum Kingdom
Chamber – Angel Tree Program
-
Rainbow Rooms in
Bosque, Erath, Hood, Somervell and Johnson counties
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Ruth's Place
-
Safe at Home
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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
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. |