What is Operation Round Up?
Operation Round Up was originally started at Palmetto Electric Cooperative in Hilton Head, S.C. It was designed to gather voluntary contributions from members to assist people or organizations in the communities served by the cooperative with medical care or equipment, food, clothing, housing, etc.
How does this program work?
Each month, members who wish to participate will allow Carroll White REMC to automatically round up their electric bills to the next highest dollar. For example, if a member’s electric bill is $61.75, the bill would automatically be rounded up to $62 — the extra 25 cents would be put in the Carroll White REMC Community Fund.
A board of trustees appointed by the Carroll White REMC board of directors will oversee this fund. This will assure equal representation from across our service territory. That 25 cents doesn’t sound like much, but if all 12,000 members of Carroll White REMC participated and all members averaged $6 per year in donations that’s $42,000 raised in a year’s time. Think about how that sum of money could be used to help an organization or individual in need. All for just few cents a month.
Who will be eligible to receive these funds?
Any person or organization in the Carroll White REMC service territory is eligible to apply for these funds. It is not necessary for those applying to be members of Carroll White REMC. Applications, which will be at the REMC office, will be given to the board of trustees who will evaluate the applications and determine where the funds should go.
What are the possible uses of this fund?
Projects that Operation Round Up can help with include community service projects, education, medical care and equipment, food, clothing, housing and other needed services. Examples could include a heating system for a poor family, help with medical care expenses for an invalid, or providing school clothing for children. Another example could be medical equipment for a local rescue or ambulance service.
Will this money be used to pay delinquent bills or help the campaigns of elected officials?
No. These funds will not be used to pay delinquent electric bills, as there are plenty of other charitable services to help with electric bills. Nor, will these funds be used in any way to support or oppose any political candidate.
What is the board of trustees and what are the duties assigned to the body?
The Carroll White REMC Community Fund, Inc. has a board of trustees that was appointed by the Carroll White REMC board of directors. One person from each REMC board district will assure equal representation across the system. The Carroll White REMC Community Fund board will meet quarterly.
The primary duty of this board is to evaluate applications made to the fund and determine how to best distribute the money.