The Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson, recognized local organizations receiving $22,184 through Operation Round Up. These donations occur due to monthly contributions by participating Federated members. 30 groups received money in this 50th round of funding:
Family Services Network, Jackson Co. $150 Buy 15 booklets for Love & Logic Parenting classes
JCC Softball $150 Buy cocoa drag mat to maintain the infield
East Chain Activity Center $223 Stainless steel table for concession stand/food prep
Lakefield Legion Auxiliary $250 For paint & supplies to update the Legion
Welcome Fire Department $264 Buy 2 lights that attach to helmets for hands-free lighting at fire
Martin County Historical Society, Fairmont $265 Replace old male & female mannequin to show military clothing
MCW Indoor Pool, Sherburn $279 Buy 2 new rescue tubes and regulation/rules signs
Sherburn Fire Department/Ambulance $295 Buy electronic thermometer for ambulance
Okabena Fire Department $300 Buy 10 high visibility vests for firemen working accident scenes
JCC Middle School, Lakefield $350 Therapeutic/art supplies to prevent/decrease behavior referrals
SW/W Central Svc. Cooperative at JCC $380 Crawling tunnel, bean bag chair & strength tunnel for sensory
regulation room for Preschool-3rd grade
Alpha Fire Department $400 For a leaf blower to contain and put out grass fires
Human Services Faribault/Martin Co. $405 Buy 50 workbooks “Parenting the Love & Logic Way”
Trimont Ambulance $450 Two-way radio for new hire first responder beyond city limits
Boy Scouts of America, Sherburn $500 10 cots for outdoor camping
Northrop Citizens for Parks $500 Refurbish city parks with new wood chips & border around play
area; paint slides & merry-go-rounds
Heron Lake Fire Department $500 For 10 pairs of replacement extrication gloves
House of Hope, Fairmont $500 Toward LED lights at adult treatment facility
HL-O Elementary School LIbrary $500 Toward new non-fiction books, removing outdated books
Southwestern Mental Health Ctr, Jackson $500 For 50 booklets for “A New Norm” for families in need
Caregiver Response Effort & Service Team (CREST), Fairmont
$500 20 “Healthy Aging” handbooks for senior citizen classes
Jackson Center for the Arts $559 Buy laptop for presentations, webpage & research
MCW Preschool/ECFE $615 Replace old, outdated toys for free choice play
Truman Public Preschool $647 STEM toys: block kit, light kits, perception spheres & water kit
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office $750 Toward new K-9 dog slated in spring 2020, replacing retired dog
JCC, Lakefield ball field $750 Toward new foul poles for softball/baseball fields
MCW High School Science Dept. $800 Buy two new microscopes
Fairmont High School Robotics $850 Power tools used for building a robot for competition
SW/W Central Service Co-op at HL-O $1,252 Therapy swing, frame & rotation device for occupational therapy
to work on reflexes and gross/fine motor skills
Jackson County Food for Kids $2,000 For backpack program providing kids food for the weekends
9 $700 high school scholarships $6,300 For Federated members’ high school senior graduates
Total $22,184
The Trust Board received 44 applications totaling $50,735 in this 50th round of funding. The Trust Board will meet again in the spring to determine the next round of funding. The deadline for submitting applications is February 14, 2020.
About 80 percent of Federated Rural Electric members participate in Operation Round Up. They allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill of $55.75 is rounded up to $56. The extra cents go to a special trust fund, which is administered by an independent trust board that consists of seven Federated members. Since the first round of funding in 1995, more than $697,000 has been awarded to local organizations and as high school scholarships.
