Ten area nonprofits to receive Heartland Rural Electric grants

Volunteers with the La Cygne Food Pantry load food into cars in front of the La Cygne United Methodist Church earlier this year. The pantry was one of 10 recipients of Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative's "Operation Round-Up." (Journal file photo)

By Doug Graham

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative communications specialist

GIRARD – Ten Linn County nonprofit organizations and one in Fontana are set to receive a financial donation through Operation Round-Up, a Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative program. Funds will be distributed in 2026.

Area recipients include:

• Concern Inc. - Mound City

• First Baptist Church of Pleasanton

• Friends of Library District No. 2 of Linn County, La Cygne

• Mound City United Methodist Church

• Parker United Methodist Church – Helping Hands & Hearts

• Prescott United Methodist Church - Reach Out Food Pantry

• Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mound City

• Second Chances, Blue Mound

• La Cygne United Methodist Church, La Cygne Food Pantry

• United Women in Faith, Pleasanton

• Church of Christ Fontana, Heavenly Hotdogs Food Pantry

Nonprofits throughout eastern Kansas that serve community members in need will soon receive a total of more than $50,000 in contributions through Heartland's Operation Round Up program.

"It's always impressive to see what a difference our members can make by contributing just a little bit of change every month," said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO. "We continue to be proud of our board and our members for helping the neediest in their communities through this program."

Through Operation Round Up, participating Heartland members' electric bills are rounded up to the next dollar each month. The additional amount is collected and pooled into a fund for distribution to charitable organizations that provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and other direct services for those in need.

Funds collected through the Operation Round Up program are administered by a panel of volunteer trustees selected by the Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors from throughout Heartland's 12-county service area.

Applications were accepted in October and November and were reviewed by the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees at its annual meeting on Dec. 1.

Each organization will receive between $800 and $2,400 in January, with a total of $50,400 distributed.

Other recipients of funds include:

• Alliance of Churches for Christian Living, Chanute

• Beacon Food Pantry, Fort Scott

• Care to Share Cancer Support Group, Fort Scott

• Columbus Christian Center, Manna Depot, Columbus

• Community Food Pantry, Girard

• Elsmore United Methodist Church, Elsmore

• Erie Area Community Christmas Basket Fund, Erie

• Erie Federated Church, Erie

• First Assembly of God Baxter Springs, Hope Chest, Baxter Springs

• First Baptist Church, Cherokee

• First Baptist Church of Riverton, Riverton

• First Christian Church, God's Pantry, Chanute

• First Presbyterian Church of Iola

• First United Methodist Church, Columbus

• Galesburg Christian Church, Orange Swan Free Store

• Hope Chapel, Moran

• Humanity House, Iola

• Humboldt Ministerial Alliance, Humboldt Community Food Pantry

• Pitt Chapel Church of God, Pittsburg

• Michael Catholic Church, A Meal In His Name, Girard

• Wings of Warriors, Gas

• Yates Center United Methodist Church, Bowls of Plenty

Current Operation Round Up trustees include Tom Bradbury of Uniontown, Rev. Daniel Davis of Iola, Carol Houston of Prescott, Nancy Hurd of Columbus, Kelly Perry of Bronson, Sue Stainbrook of Fontana, Mark Taylor of Girard, and Sharon Young of Erie.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas manages Operation Round Up contributions and disburses funds on behalf of Heartland.