Operation Round Up

Since Operation Round Up was started more than 20 years, ago, the program has made a $5.6 million difference in our communities one penny at a time.

The community outreach program has proven to be a simple way for Cuivre River Electric members to help a neighbor in need and ensure that our communities continue to thrive.

Operation Round Up exists through the generosity of members who voluntarily choose to "round up" their electric bill payments each month to the next dollar amount.

Two new trustees were appointed by the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Board of Directors to the co-op’s Community Trust, which facilitates the distribution of funds raised through Operation Round Up.

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is once again accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors and current college students.

Nearly every day, a plea for help is made.

It might be a family in need of clothing or other items. It could be a school staff member who is weeks away from losing their home to foreclosure. Or maybe it is adopting families during the holidays and making sure they have presents under the Christmas tree or a turkey at Thanksgiving.

For the third year in a row, the Cuivre River Electric Community Trust awarded grants topping $300,000.

In 2018, 243 grants totaling $325,807.27 were given to individuals, families and community organization in St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren and Pike counties. Of that amount, 104 grants equaling $127,785.27 were issued to individuals and families, 69 grants for $128,272 were presented to organizations and 70 college scholarships totaling $69,750 were awarded to students.

Two new trustees were appointed by the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative Board of Directors to the co-op’s Community Trust, which facilitates the distribution of funds raised through Operation Round Up.

The number of youth facing homelessness has been growing at an alarming rate.

In Youth In Need's service area, the number of homeless students increased 114 percent over the last seven school years, from 5,886 (2009-2010) to 12,599 (2016-2017). These numbers include counts of 803 homeless students in St. Charles County, 409 in Warren County and 100 in Lincoln County.

A smile is worth a thousand words, some say. And when children leave a Give Kids A Smile clinic, their smile is a little brighter.

Hundreds of disadvantaged children throughout the St. Louis area are benefiting from the free dental clinics offered by Give Kids A Smile twice a year.

Volunteers with the Salvation Army-Lincoln County Unit are entering their busiest stretch of the year.

They are currently holding the “Coats for the Cold” project and are finalizing preparations for the Red Kettle campaign.

“We do what we can to help others,” said Phyllis Cross, who serves as the group’s co-chair.

On a recent stormy Saturday, area veterans gathered to provide other special veterans with an opportunity to enjoy a day of fishing while away from a hospital or group home setting.