Thanks to nearly 75 percent of LaGrange County REMC members for supporting Operation Round Up. Participating program members allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. This spare change is used to benefit people who live in our community. Since the beginning of the program in January 2002, nearly $480,000 has been given back to our community. The money has been used by organizations to serve our youth, senior citizens, young families and everyone in-between.

The following organizations recently received Operation Round Up funds:

• Community Harvest Food Bank received $3,000 to be used for the Farm Wagon mobile pantry program of LaGrange County.
• The Orland Community Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $2,130 to help purchase a thermal imaging camera to help find individuals in a burning structure and detect hot spots following a fire.
• The Clothes and Food Basket of LaGrange County was granted $4,000 to be used toward the purchase of food and other supplies.

We are thankful for the people in LaGrange County who are willing to serve others. LaGrange County REMC, through Operation Round Up and our members, is honored to be able to provide money for the different organizations that help to make LaGrange County a better place to live. Members of the Operation Round Up Committee for 2018 include Michael Peterson, Sue Burger, Nic Engle, Shane Rasler, RD Wolheter, Cliff Hibbs and Brittany Sams.

If you are part of a civic organization that provides services to people of our community, we encourage you to apply for funding. Applications can be picked up at our office at 1995 E. U.S. 20, LaGrange, or downloaded from our website, lagrangeremc.com. To be considered for funding for the next quarter, applications are due in our office by 4:30 p.m. on April 2.