Operation Round Up

Operation Round Up is a significant way LREC members can come together to make a difference in our community. Extra change generated from rounding up the monthly bills of participating members is used to fund requests by local charitable organizations. These small amounts — between $0.01 to $0.99 — all add up to make a big impact.

For example: if your bill is $72.36, it is rounded up to $73.00 and the extra 64¢ goes to the Operation Round Up Trust Fund. Multiply all that extra change by the thousands of generous LREC members who participate, and it makes a BIG difference in our local communities. This unique program has provided funds for purchasing various items for local fire departments, groups serving youth, medical equipment for those in need, donations to food shelves and many other worthwhile causes.

Operation Round Up—small change that changes lives.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

To be a part of this voluntary program, sign up online, check the box on your billing statement, or email billing@lrec.coop

Our SmartHub users can sign up by just logging into their SmartHub account.

Log into SmartHub and visit the Billing & Payments tab, then select Operation Round Up.
Click Enroll and accept the Terms and Conditions.
Choose an Enrollment Option and click Confirm. You have the option to unenroll anytime.

Members who aren’t signed up with SmartHub can sign up at Operation Round Up Participation Agreement.

HOW TO GET FUNDING

If you have a community project that needs funding, complete the online Operation Round Up Request for Funding form and submit it with supporting documentation for consideration.

Applications for funding will be accepted until June 15, 2024.

Contribution Guidelines
Contributions will be distributed primarily in the local area served by Lake Region Electric Cooperative. Donations will be limited to non-profit, charitable organizations. Non-profit organizations that have been granted IRS Code 501(c)(3) status and serve a large number of people will be given priority.

Upcoming deadlines are listed below.

Application Deadlines

Applications for ORU funding are received three times a year. Upcoming dates are:

June 15, 2024
September 15, 2024
March 15, 2025

Meeting Dates

The Operation Round Up Board of Directors meet quarterly. Upcoming meeting dates are:

July 8, 2024
October 14, 2024
January 6, 2025

RECENT GRANT RECIPIENTS

Funds were granted to 15 local organizations throughout Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s service area from the Operation Round Up Program. A total of $29,150 was awarded by the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees at the April 8, 2024 meeting. Organizations receiving funds were:

$1,000 to the City of Henning Park & Rec Department
$2,500 to BIO Girls
$800 to Someplace Safe in Pelican Rapids
$1,500 to the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association in Fergus Falls
$500 to Our Saviors Ten Mile Lake Church Quilters
$500 to the Fergus Falls Police Department
$2,500 to Faith Haven Camp, Inc.
$3,000 to the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative
$600 for the Brandon-Evansville Dollars for Scholars
$2,000 to the Henning Skatepark Fund
$750 to True Friends
$1,500 to the Friends of Maplewood State Park
$2,000 to the Freedom Rock in Vergas
$7,000 to the Jamestown EMS Education (Ringdahl Ambulance)
$3,000 to the North Country Food Bank, Inc.

The total amount awarded since 2007 is $712,700.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Operation Round Up is a voluntary charitable fundraising program through Lake Region Electric Cooperative. The trust fund is overseen by a volunteer, nine-member board of trustees, who are selected to serve by LREC’s board of directors. Current ORU Trustee Board Members are:

District 1: Karen Hart
District 2: Polly Reitan
District 3: Nick Murdock
District 4: Denise Laymon
District 5: Patty Johnson (Chair)
District 6: Kristie Partain
District 7: Harold Stanislowski
District 8: Duane Hanson
District 9: Ruth Vetter

Left to right: Patty Johnson, Nick Murdock, Ruth Vetter, Duane Hanson, Karen Hart, Denise Laymon, and Polly Reitan. Not pictured: Kristie Partain and Harold Stanislowski.