Ready to round up?
Of Oklahoma’s 28 electric distribution co-ops, 12 currently have an Operation Round Up (ORU) Program. Learn more from your participating co-op:
✓ Alfalfa ✓ Caddo ✓ Canadian Valley ✓ Cookson Hills ✓ Cotton ✓ East Central
✓ Kiamichi ✓ Lake Region ✓ Northeast ✓ Oklahoma ✓ Indian ✓ Rural
The home of Stacy Braswell, Indian Electric Cooperative member, following the wildfi re. Photo by Tia Corbin
Oklahoma Electric Cooperative grant provides 3,000 meals to Meals on Wheels Norman, Inc. Photo by Hayley Leatherwood
Students compete in robotics competition sponsored in part by an Alfalfa Electric Cooperative grant. Photo courtesy of Heartland BEST
If viewing our digital edition, click the co-op names above to learn more about ORU. Access our digital edition at www.ok-living. coop or fi nd our FREE app at the Apple Newsstand, Google Play or Amazon.
“People ask me, ‘You lost everything, how are you still smiling?’ And I say, ‘Why wouldn’t I be when I have the love and support of everyone
around me? You have to count your blessings, not your losses.’” - Stacy Braswell, Indian Electric Cooperative recipient
Feeding Thousands
Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) in Norman, Okla., has a simi- lar structure, but operates on an “opt-out” basis. A cooperative member is enrolled in the Operation Round Up program until he or she designates otherwise.
Patti Rogers, OEC’s Operation Round Up coordinator, says the foundation is grateful to have tremendous support, which allows the foundation to gener- ate about $18,000 a month. This funding enables OEC to give back to many diverse community programs, like Meals on Wheels Norman, Inc.
Meals on Wheels Norman, Inc. provides about 300 meals a day for senior residents. The meals are priced based on a sliding scale from 81 cents to $6 a meal, depending on the cost of the dietary needs.
“It helps keep our seniors living at home and with dignity,” Lynn Hanes,
Meals on Wheels Norman, Inc. executive director, says. “It provides a sense of well being that they know someone will be checking on them.”
The OEC Operation Round Up program enables Meals on Wheels Nor- man, Inc. to serve people who are in need of the meal program who cannot afford to pay for the cost of the meal.
The program operates on a donation basis without state or federal funding and relies on a strong volunteer base. Hanes says as long as donations can cover the needs of that group, the program can continue to provide meals without having a waiting list.
“Without the OEC Foundation grant, honestly, we would probably be providing 3,000 fewer meals,” Hanes says. “This grant is very important and something we’ve counted on for years to ensure we can take care of everyone in need.”
Rogers says the foundation board cares deeply about the community and works to stay in touch with the area’s needs.
“It’s changed my life working with this program,” Rogers says.
Building a Bright Future
Regina Waugh, Alfalfa Electric Cooperative (AEC) accountant, says the value of the Operation Round Up program is immeasurable. AEC’s board voted to begin the program in 2004. The AEC Foundation
began making grants two years later and currently has three-quarters of its membership participating.
“I really think it’s turned into an amazing program,” Waugh says.
In addition to not-for-profi t organizations, the program also provides grants to individuals and families for shelter, medical and utility needs. Waugh says the cooperative has recently awarded several education grants.
For example, Heartland BEST is a free robotics competition for middle and
high school students in northwestern Oklahoma. According to Northwest- ern State University, “BEST” stands for “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.”
The AEC grant helps Heartland BEST provide free stock materials, elec- tronics, R/C equipment and game rules to student teams. The teams then get to design, prototype and test their work.
“It’s amazing to see the creativity of these kids, it just blows us away,” Dr.
Cindy Pfeifer-Hill, Heartland BEST Sponsorship Chair, says. “If it weren’t for organizations like Alfalfa Electric, we just could not put this program on for northwestern youth, so we’re eternally grateful.”
Waugh says she wishes the membership could know how big of an impact the concerted small amounts of change make in the community.
“I would do anything for more of our members to be able to see how helpful Operation Round Up has been to organizations they probably use,” Waugh says.
Waugh, Eulert and Rogers agree the Operation Round Up program is valu- able to have in any size cooperative. The more members who participate, the more opportunity there is to help the community. As a participant and a recipient, Braswell encourages fellow cooperative members to learn more about the program.
“This is an easy way to bless others,” Braswell says. “You as one person can’t, but everyone together can.”
Check the co-op list at the top of this page to see if your cooperative has an Operation Round Up program. For more information or to learn how to get involved, contact your local cooperative.
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