Trustees for the Dubois REC Operation Round Up fund met in June to award grants to five local organizations. The total amount of grants was $9,401. This brings the total amount of grants awarded in the community to $377,879.68 since 2011.
Operation Round Up is just what the name implies. Dubois REC members simply allow the co-op to “round up” their electric bill to the next highest dollar. That spare change goes into a fund that is overseen by a board of trustees, who are also Dubois REC members. Local groups, schools, and organizations can then apply for grants from this fund.
Those eligible to apply for the funds include groups or organizations located within the Dubois REC service territory, which covers the counties of Dubois, Crawford, Perry, Pike, Orange, and Martin. Grants are available for local volunteer fire departments, youth programs, 4-H, senior citizen programs school programs and other community service projects. The fund will NOT be used to pay any electric or utility bills or be used in any way to support or oppose any political candidate or campaign.
Listed below are the recipients of the Operation Round Up grants that were awarded in the most recent grant cycle.
Cedar Crest Intermediate School received a $3,500 grant to cover part of the costs for their “We are Fit” after-school program, which includes a light snack, supervised study time and physical fitness activities.
Crisis Connection, Inc. receives a $1,200 grant to help with the rent of their Safe House, which offers shelter to a family in crisis for up to 30 days.
The St. Anthony American Legion Post 493 received a $2,500 grant to help with the cost of repairing the roof and the stucco of the building.
The Teen Outback received a $1,000 grant to fund a new check-in/check-out system for children attending events at the facility. The system enhances the safety and security of the kids who are on-site. Parents will be able to use the system to create a profile for their child, which includes family members or guardians who are approved to pick up the child, emergency contacts and allergies.
Traditional Arts Today received a $1,201 grant to partially fund the purchase of new tables and chairs for their expanding classes, which teach traditional skills such as cloth and basket weaving, soap making, embroidery, quilting and others. The organization is expanding to a larger classroom space adjacent to the 9th Street Studio in the Carriage House.
Dubois REC will accept applications for the next cycle of Operation Round Up® grants August 1-31. Grant applications must be submitted before 4 p.m. on August 31. Representatives from local civic groups, non-profits, schools or community organizations who would like to apply for an Operation Round Up grant can download the application forms from www.duboisrec.com, under the “Community” section. Applications are also available at the Dubois REC office, by calling 812.482.5454 or sending an email to Kyla Jones at kylaj@duboisrec.com.
