The Season Of Giving
The holiday season is finally here. Some call it the most wonderful time of the year. That’s because we associate it with family traditions and gathering with friends and loved ones. It’s a time of giving and spreading joy. The generosity that comes with the holiday season demonstrates just how powerful our community is, especially when we come together. Our joint efforts help to care for some of the most vulnerable community members within our seven-district service area. This is one of the many reasons why our Board voted to establish the Operation Round Up® (ORU®) program in 2021.
The impact we have when we work together is significant. When you are a member of MEC, you help us spread the good throughout the year. If you choose to round up your monthly bill to the nearest dollar, you are helping local charities, community events and more! That means for an estimated $6 a year up to $11.88 per year, you are providing after-school care for children at the Boys and Girls Club of Missoula County, money for the local arts, equipment for local volunteer fire departments, and so much more.
Your generous spirit is helping to meet immediate, often critical, needs within our community and showing your neighbors that you care. Over the past five quarters (15 months), member contributions have totaled over $83,000. The ORU Board has reviewed dozens of applications and has never had to turn an organization’s request down.
You’ve likely heard me say that the cooperative principle “concern for community” is a part of MEC’s DNA. It defines who we are as a cooperative. When we first brought electricity to our community in 1936, the quality of life improved. But other things also need to be addressed, and through the years, your co-op has been at the forefront of bringing improvements to the quality of life in this community. It’s why we created Operation Round Up®.
It is a blessing to be able to give back. Across the country, more than 350 electric co-ops have established round up programs, and together, we’ve raised millions for local communities. This shows that small donations made over time can make a collective impact. We like to say that “small change makes a big difference.”
As a local cooperative, we have a stake in this community. It’s why we support local organizations, charities, schools, students and events. We hope you will think of Missoula Electric Cooperative as more than your energy provider, but also as a catalyst for good in our community.
I hope you have a joyous holiday season. May it be merry and bright!
To learn more about Operation Round Up® or to apply, please visit our ORU webpage.
