Southwest Rural Electric’s charitable foundation, Operation Round Up (ORU), awarded a total of $41,650 in grants to the following groups and organizations in 2023:
- First Methodist Church of Vernon Mission Kitchen
- Vernon Meals on Wheels
- Wilbarger Co. Child Welfare Board
- Wilbarger St. Church of Christ Food Pantry
- Altus Animal Welfare
- Altus Salvation Army
- Cyclone Education Foundation
- Grace Child Development Center
- Great Plains Literacy Council
- Jackson County EMS
- Navajo Public Schools – Elementary Library
- Nehemiah Initiative of Altus
- Operation C.A.R.E. of Jackson County
- Southern Kiowa County Food Pantry
- Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group – Head Start
- Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group – Safe Haven
- Tillman County Food Bank Foundation
- Tipton Public Schools – Elementary Reading
- Tipton Public Schools – High School English
- Tipton Public Schools – Special Education
- Warren Senior Citizens
Grant distributions are made possible by SWRE members who voluntarily “round up” their monthly electric bills to the nearest whole dollar. An enrolled member donates an average of 50 cents a month, or $6 a year, to ORU. Funds from billing accumulate over the year and are given back to local organizations and nonprofits.
Since the foundation launched in 2018, ORU has given $264,888 back to SWRE communities.
“The motto of the foundation is small change changes lives. You would never guess that members of a small rural electric co-op could turn 50 cents a month into a quarter of a million dollar gift,” said Rebecca Chambless, SWRE’s Director of Marketing. “ORU funds stay right here in SWRE’s service area. Donations come in from our members and are returned locally to our most vulnerable neighbors and organizations who are enhancing the quality of life in our communities. That’s the cooperative difference.”
SWRE members who are not enrolled in ORU can begin “rounding up” their bill at any time. Currently enrolled members are invited to join ORU Plus, where they can give beyond the monthly “rounded up” change and customize their donation to $5, $10 or more each month. Call member services at 1-800-256-7973 to join us in giving back.
