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Trinity Valley EC News

Giving Back Is the Co-op Way

Message from General Manager/CEO Jerry Boze

As some of you might know, cooperatives across the globe adhere to Seven Cooperative Principles that guide all of our decisions—from how we run the co-op to how we engage with our local communities.

Concern for Community is the seventh principle, and it is one that all cooperative employees value year-round. During the holiday season, concern for community seems especially important.

Electric cooperatives have a proud history of caring about and giving back to their communities. TVEC participates in the local chambers, civic clubs like Lion’s, Kiwanis, Rotary and Pilot. We also donate time to the local Crime Stoppers, Emergency Service District Boards, Relay For Life, Cub Scouts, Meals on Wheels, education foundations and local government.

Our members help us give back, too. Through the Operation Round Up program, members can round up their energy bills to the next whole dollar amount, and the extra change goes toward helping community service organizations or individuals and families in need right here in our community.

So many families go without on a daily basis and struggle to make ends meet. This struggle can be especially challenging during the holiday season.

Monetary donations to charities are one of the best ways to help, but there are many other ways you can support the community. Go through your closets and find clothes that no longer fit or you don’t wear. Bag those items up and take them to a local charity. Volunteer for a local food or toy drive, deliver meals to the sick and the elderly, or simply make a meal for a neighbor in need. You can get the whole family involved by helping sort donations and wrap gifts at a local charity. Just spending time with folks who feel forgotten, particularly at the holidays, also can be a tremendous gift.

No matter how great or small the act, every time we give, we strengthen our community.