November brings reminders of the things we’re grateful for: family gathered around the table, friendships that span generations and neighbors who show up when we need them. Across the Big Country, taking care of one another is part of what makes our communities feel like home.
At Big Country Electric Cooperative, that spirit of giving continues throughout the year through Operation Round Up. The idea is simple: small contributions, pooled together, can accomplish more than any one contribution could alone.
Participating co-op members have their monthly electric charge rounded up to the next whole dollar. For example, a monthly charge of $124.65 for one participating meter would round up to $125, contributing 35 cents.
Contributions range from zero to 99 cents per month for each participating meter, totaling no more than $11.88 annually. Members with multiple participating meters on the same account or bill contribute separately for each one.
Care Close to Home
Together, BCEC members typically contribute $10,000–$11,000 each quarter through Operation Round Up. That collective generosity turns pennies from individual meters into meaningful assistance for our neighbors.
Donations go into the Big Country EC Trust, keeping funds separate from the cooperative’s operating funds. A volunteer trust board reviews applications and awards assistance for local needs, including food, shelter, health and education.
Every contribution stays within the counties BCEC serves, helping individuals, families and organizations meet needs close to home.
In September, the following organizations were approved for Operation Round Up grants:
- Haskell Experienced Citizen Center $4,000
- Scurry County Ministerial Alliance $2,000
- Texas Ramp Project $1,600
- West Texas Children’s Advocacy Center $2,000
Electric cooperatives are owned by the members they serve. That local connection gives us a shared interest in the well-being of our communities, from the families who live here to the organizations that help our towns thrive.
One of the seven principles that guides cooperatives is Concern for Community. Operation Round Up puts that principle into practice by giving members a simple way to help their neighbors and support the places we call home.
Who Can Apply?
Operation Round Up welcomes applications from local organizations that provide essential community services, including food banks, shelters, medical assistance, rescue organizations, educational projects, childcare programs and more.
Families and individuals facing financial hardships due to life-altering circumstances are also encouraged to apply.
Grants are awarded quarterly. The next application deadline is 5:30 p.m. November 10.
A Reason to Be Thankful
This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the members who make this program possible and the volunteers who give their time to thoughtfully consider each request. Each contribution reflects a willingness to help someone else, including a neighbor you may never meet.
Thank you for helping carry the spirit of giving beyond the holiday season and into the everyday life of our communities.
To learn more, visit bigcountry.coop and select Service Beyond Electricity, then Operation Round Up. Contact Krysha Burleson at (325) 776-3803 or [email protected] for more information.
