In Japanese culture the word “crisis” also means “opportunity”. The board of directors of The Wood County Electric Charitable Foundation (WCECF) recently displayed that opportunistic attitude when doling out grants to worthy local charitable causes. The board members usually meet twice a year to review grant requests and make monetary awards. The first bi-annual meeting was scheduled for March, but as we all know, the pandemic got in the way of many scheduled events. To meet with the co-ops social distancing procedures, that March board meeting was delayed.
During that time, some of the grant requests became obsolete, as they were for non-profit events and needs that were also delayed or cancelled. While meetings and events were being waylaid, other needs rapidly emerged as the effects of the financial crisis attached to the pandemic hit. Food pantries across the nation began to see double the number of needy clients, as shelves were rapidly emptied. The board decided to do something about that.
Once able, they held an electronic meeting via teleconference, to discuss the grant requests that were still viable, and to consider directing help where it would most beneficial during this time of need.
At this meeting, after vetting 14 non-profit food pantries across WCEC’s service territory, they unanimously and proactively voted to grant $2,000 to each one. The recipients are: God’s Closet, Food Pantry of Franklin County, Rains County Good Samaritan, Titus County Cares Food Pantry, Upshur County Shares, Hawkins Helping Hands, Kindness Kottage, Bread of Life Ministries, CS Food Pantry, Van Community Ministries, Manna Inc., David Powell Food Pantry, Hopkins County Community Chest and the regional East Texas Food Bank.
Upon receipt of their check, Rita Johns, Director of the CS Food Pantry said, “Due to the Covid-19 crisis needs have greatly increased. We are so grateful for the people in our community who have stepped forward to help us supply food for those who need it. We’re funded strictly by donations, and we don’t receive anything from the local or federal governments. We are so humbled and thankful to receive the funds without even asking. What a blessing!
Along with the $28,000 worth of donations to the food pantries, the board did review and award $45,816 in other grants to fund projects and organizations whose requests were not on hold. Those recipients included: Mineola League of the Arts for $2,266 for a sound system; Children’s Miracle Network in the amount of $2,500 to help fund medical care for children; Texas Ramp Project in the amount of $2,500 to build wheel chair ramps for those in need; $5,550 to Fouke Community Center to assist with repairs; $12,000 to Winnsboro Community Resource Center and Pantry, to help with their mission of community assistance; $6,000 to Quitman Lake Charitable Foundation to help fund a basketball court at the public park; and $15,000 for Communities in Schools of North East Texas, which supports children in the foster care system.
This brought the grand total to $73,000 for this round of giving. The Operation Round Up Program at WCEC has been in place since 2017. Since then, including this recent round of grants, the foundation has sent a total of $304,706.00 to community non-profits. These grants have funded life-saving equipment, community and senior centers, artistic and social programs, educational pursuits, and many other programs and projects that are the life blood, and that extra sparkle that make up our East Texas home.
Trey Teaff, CEO and GM of WCEC, encapsulates these gifts well by saying, “The members of Wood County Electric Cooperative voluntarily donate funds through Operation Round Up to support these community-centered grants. Every time funds go out, this program is a celebration of those members. The program allows each participant to give a very little. In turn, coupled with all donors, Operation Roundup becomes an extremely significant contributor to our region and the quality of life we have here. I’m proud of this program, every single member-contributor, and the recipient’s organizations that are doing such good work.”