The holiday season is finally here. Some call it the most wonderful season of all. 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.
But giving back reminds us of the many good things we have right here in our community and why it’s so important to spread the good as far as we can, especially to the most vulnerable in our local area. We’re also reminded of how wonderful our communities are and what a big impact we can have when we work together.
When you are a member of Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative (CWEC), you help us spread the good throughout the year. Through our Operation Round Up program, your donations help local organizations, families, and students. Operation Round Up is an “opt-out” program in which participating members round up their electric bill each month to the nearest dollar. On average, the annual donation is around $6.
When you “round up” your monthly bill from CWEC and donate to this fund, you’re making a big difference in someone’s life. You are helping to meet an immediate, critical need, but just as importantly, you are telling this person the community cares.
Over the years, our community-focused programs, food donations and other giving projects have helped purchase important equipment for fire departments and ambulance services, supported local schools and young people, fed hungry families, supported families in need, and so much more.
You’ve likely heard us say that the cooperative principle “concern for community” is part of CWEC’s DNA. It defines who we are as an organization. When we first brought electricity to the area, the quality of life improved. But other things also needed to be addressed and through the years, this co-op has been at the forefront of bringing improvements to the quality of life in the communities we serve. It’s why we created Operation Round Up.
To date, with your help, we’ve given almost $600,000 back to local families, organizations, and individuals through this program. And across the country, more than 350 electric co-ops have an Operation Round Up program, and together, we’ve raised millions for local communities. This shows that small donations from electric co-ops like ours, over time, can collectively make a big impact.
As a local cooperative, we have a stake in the communities we serve. It’s why we support many local organizations. We hope you will think of CWEC as more than your energy provider, but also as a catalyst for good in our community.
We hope all our members have a joyous holiday season. May it be merry and bright!
To learn more about Operation Round Up, visit https://www.cwecoop.com/operation-round