At Medina Electric Cooperative, the commitment to service extends far beyond maintaining power lines. Through the Volunteer Time Off program, employees are given eight hours a year to volunteer and are encouraged to step away from their daily tasks and into the heart of the communities they serve.
In 2025, cooperative employees used 1,125 hours volunteering in the communities where they live and serve. Whether it is building ramps, mentoring youth or supporting local health, our team members use this time to help their neighbors.
A favorite option for many at Medina EC is to invest their VTO in the next generation. For some, this means being a fixture in local schools. Theresa Rivera and Brittany Meyers, both from the corporate office in Hondo, dedicate their time to supporting teachers and students. Rivera said that the flexibility provided by Medina EC allows for a consistent presence at school events that makes their children proud. Brandi Aranda (Uvalde) recently witnessed the giving hearts of the community firsthand while volunteering at a scholastic book fair, where students were seen donating their own change to ensure their classmates could also afford books.
For others, the mission to guide youth happens on the field or in the arena. Coaches like Katie Haby (corporate office) and Mario Lopez (Bruni) use their VTO to teach the sports they loved growing up, such as volleyball and basketball. Haby finds it especially rewarding to watch young girls grow in confidence and leadership, skills that translate far beyond the court.
Similarly, Savannah Persyn (corporate office) returns every January to the Medina County Junior Livestock Show. Having grown up as an exhibitor, Persyn now volunteers alongside her father in the same barn where she learned responsibility—an experience that highlights the supportive community that shaped her.
Beyond the classroom and the sports field, VTO is used for helping with manual labor and community safety initiatives. Bryce Thayer (corporate office), for instance, said he finds it extremely heartwarming to participate in ramp builds for those in need and recently spent time spreading mulch on a local playground for Hondo ISD to ensure a safer environment for children. Meanwhile, Daniela Hinojosa (Rio Grande City) and Raegan Mazurek (corporate office) prioritize community health by frequently donating blood, with Hinojosa also attending events like National Night Out to stay visible and engaged with cooperative members.
The impact of the VTO program is felt just as strongly by the employees as it is by the communities we serve. Medina EC employees take pride in working for an organization that values local involvement so highly. As Meyers reflects, when an employer pays you to go out and give back, it makes the act of service that much sweeter. Whether it is receiving a hug from a student in town or seeing the face of someone helped by a new ramp, these moments of connection are the true power behind Medina EC’s VTO program.
