Operation Round Up

Small change makes a big difference in our community through our Operation Round Up program.

What is Operation Round Up?

REMC members can allow their electric bills to be "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. Those few extra cents are added to the Operation Round Up fund each month. The combined effort of hundreds of members participating helps this account grow to thousands of dollars which can be used for grants in our local community.

Who are the Participants?

Participation in Operation Round Up® is strictly voluntary. Members will have an opportunity to choose whether or not to participate.

Where does my donation go?

All Operation Round Up™® donations are placed in a trust fund and administered by an independent Board of Directors. The Trust is made up of community leaders who serve on the Board on a voluntary basis.

This Board receives and evaluates all requests for funds and determine how they will be distributed. Typically, the funding is used to address crucial needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education, but it is not limited to these categories.

Deadlines for Grant Applications

January 3, 2023

March 7, 2023

June 6, 2023

September 12, 2023

How To Apply

Past Recipient Report

For example:
Member's monthly bill: $52.73
Rounded up amount: $53.00

Added to Operation Round Up® Fund*: $.0.27

*Donations are tax deductible, and members are sent a summary of their yearly contributions each January and February.

The Trust does NOT provide grants for:

Labor, political, religious or sectarian groups
For-profit business startups or development
Endowments or endowed chairs
Grant-making entities
Long-term funding
On-going support for operating costs
After-the-fact/post-event situations
Fund-raising events, post-prom, or post-graduation activities
Groups or individuals to attend seminars or to take field trips
Advertising
Payments of any type of utility bill

Operation Round Up Board Members

Mike Rissler, Chairman

Dennis Fordice- Vice Chairman

Terry Bruner – Secretary/Treasurer

Kathy Collom

Sally Curley

Sharon Harmon

Chris Sanders

Caleb Wilson

Diana Ruark

All requests must be include a complete application. No personal presentations are accepted. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically. Please direct all applications to Operation Round Up or roundup@pcremc.com

All applications for funds will be given consideration. Grant requests are considered on a quarterly basis and are made on a one-year basis. If a grant is approved, the organization must wait one year until reapplying. Re-application is necessary for consideration of a grant renewal.

The Trust receives numerous requests, therefore every request cannot be fulfilled either in full or part. We prefer to select those activities that provide the greatest benefit to individuals or to the community. The Trust will evaluate all programs based on community or individual need, practicality and feasibility.

Apply ORU

How to apply for a grant

Grants are available for both individuals or local organizations and agencies.

Please select the appropriate application, download it, complete it and return it to the REMC. We previously asked that 11 copies be submitted of the application, which is no longer needed. Please only submit one copy of the application.

Organization Application

Individual Application

ORU Grant Report

$1,147,322.98
has been awarded since the year 2000!

Report of Operation Round Up Grants Awarded

2023

January
Southmont Youth Football Program $2,500.00
Awarded funds will be used to help purchase new equipment, including 126 helmets and shoulder pads.

Parke County Sheriff's Office $5,273.79
The grant will be used to help purchase 17 new bulletproof vest for deputies and reserve deputies.

Parke County Adult 4-H Leaders $2,300.00
These funds will be used to help purchase new 3-tier shelves to display the Champion 4-H projects at the county fair.

Sugar Creek Resource Center $2,000.00
Awarded funds will be used to help purchase food and hygiene items for families in need.

Parke County Community Food Pantry $5,000.00
The grant will help purchase a box truck to transport needed food and items for the pantry.
March
Putnam County Playhouse $3,000.00
Awarded funds will be used to help purchase new high-efficiency LEDs. This will support Phase II of their lighting project, which includes converting incandescent stage lighting to LEDs.

Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society $2,869.77
The grant will be used to help purchase new kennel gates, pet carriers for transportation, and a large sump pump motor for their facility.

J.U.G.A. (Bellmore) Volunteer Fire Department $3,000.00
These funds will be used to help purchase a tripod and haul system for vertical and high-angle rescues. This equipment will assist in rescues on grain bins, steep embankments, deep ravines, and on top of buildings.

2022

January
Ripley Volunteer Fire Department $4,000.00
These funds will be used to purchase a public address system for their entire building.

Child-Adult Resource Services $4,500.00
The grant will be used to improve an outdoor patio, sidewalks, and gardening area for their Brazil clients.

Putnam County Playhouse $5,000.00
Awarded amount will help purchase and replace current stage lighting to LEDs.

March
Van Buren Township Volunteer Fire Department $3,837.11
These funds will be used to help purchase updated power equipment, such as: 3 Stihl Chainsaws, a backpack leaf blower, and a battery powered cut off saw with 2 batteries and a charger.

Lyford Volunteer Fire Department $5,000.00
The grant will assist with the expense of remodeling their current training room. The new room will meet OSHA and NFPA standards for the safety of their volunteers.

Putnam County 4H Junior Leaders $500.00
Awarded amount will help purchase gift cards for the students to use in their Supermarket Sweep Competition, which benefits local food pantries in Putnam County.

June
South Putnam Agriculture and FFA $1,000.00
These funds will be used to help purchase new technology equipment, such as a printer and scanner, toner, and a wiring station.

Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department $5,628.75
Awarded funds will be used to purchase 15 fire pagers to alert firefighters during emergencies.

American Red Cross $1,000.00
The grant will help provide financial assistance, casework, and recovery planning for victims of house fires in Parke County.

September
Parke County Resource Center $4,000.00
These funds will be used to help purchase additional food and hygiene items to help serve residents in Parke County and northern Vigo County.

Putnam County Community Emergency Response Team $3,576.26
Awarded funds will be used to purchase additional shelter kits.

Turkey Run Elementary Buddy Bag Program $5,000.00
The grant will help provide weekend meals for students that face food insecurities.

2021
January
J.U.G.A (Bellmore) Volunteer Fire Department $5,759.85
The grant will help purchase updated power equipment to enhance their response and support services.

Purdue Extension of Parke County $2,000.00
The grant will assist the extension educators in Parke, Vigo, and Putnam Counties with educating local families on eating healthy while on a budget. The funds will be used to help purchase food and supplies for the classes.

Putnam County Habitat for Humanity $2,500.00
The grant will help with the installation of a new septic system for a new home.

March
New Market PTO $3,000.00
The grant will help purchase outdoor playground equipment that promotes learning in areas of STEM.

Parke Heritage Buddy Bags $2,000.00
Monies will be used to provide Parke Heritage Middle and High School students meals on the weekends that face food insecurity.

Partnership Parke County $1,000.00
The grant will help with the rental fee of the Commercial Building during the Parke County 4-H Fair. Local vendors/exhibitors are invited to setup up booth space which allows them to showcase their products/services and interact with the community.

Parke Players Inc. $3,950.00
Monies received will help make necessary repairs to their current projector. Projector repairs are needed to allow them to play new releases!

Mt. Olivet Cemetery Association, Inc. $2,950.00
The grant will help purchase a riding lawnmower for the upkeep of the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Catlin, Indiana. The cemetery has previously been mowed by a Trustee with personal equipment.

Montezuma Police Department $4,995.00
Awarded amount will help purchase of five new bullet proof vests for the safety of their officers.

Marshall Volunteer Fire Department $4,953.96
Monies awarded will help purchase new tools and equipment that can cut through metal roofs and siding. These tools and equipment are essential to quickly respond in emergency situations.

Rosedale Baseball & Softball $2,000.00
The grant will help update their fields and build dugouts. The dugouts will be built by local students participating in the Wabash River Vocational Program!

June 2021
Parke County Resource Center $3,000.00
Awarded amount will help continue to serve anyone in the community who faced food insecurity or needs hygiene products.

Russellville Community Volunteer Fire Department $5,564.40
The grant will help with the purchasing of two portable radios, which will help to keep communication equipment updated.

NCP Robotics Teams $813.76
Monies will be used to help purchase the competition boards and cover the registration costs for one team at each school (PHMS, Rockville Elm., Turkey Run Elm.)

Clay County Historical Society $600.00
Awarded amount will help fund the painting of the historic cabins the museum owns and maintains in Forest Park.

Putnam County Community Emergency Response Team, Inc. $2,000.00
The grant will help fund necessary training to ensure successful and safe search and rescues for members that are prone to wandering.

September 2021
Parke Heritage High School Drama Department $3,000.00
The grant will help purchase a new auditorium audio package and a wireless microphone package.

Putnam County Giving Tree $6,000.00
The grant will help provide Christmas gifts to the children of economically disadvantaged or families in need in Putnam County.

Rotary Club of Rockville $2,000.00
The grant will help purchase a tractor for the Parke County Community Garden.

N.C.P School Corporation S.T.E.M. Program $2,900.00
The grant will fund the purchase of Makey Makey kits for Rockville and Turkey Run Elementary students to apply their coding knowledge to a real life situation.

2020

January 2020

Parke Co 4-H Swine Committee received $7,000.00
The grant will help make improvements to the farigrounds swine barn, including a 20 x 80 ft. addition, gutters, and new windows.

Historic Ritz Theater received $2,000.00
The grant will help purchase a new ice machine for the concession stand.

Parke Heritage Alphas Youth Wrestling received $500.00
The grant will help purchase medical supplies and equipment.

Panter Alumni & Friends Touchdown Club received $1,600.00
The grant will help with the expenses of hauling dirt to the practice football field to improve current conditions and prevent injuries.

Parke County Youth Football League received $3,200.00
The grant will help purchase the remaining equipment needed and new jerseys for the 2020
teams.

March 2020

Family Support Services of West Central Indiana received $4,000.00
The grant will help provide services, counseling, and awareness to victims of domestic violence and assault.

Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau/JUMP Program received $1,075.00
The grant will help the JUMP Program supply youth in the community with needed hygiene products and a back to school pizza party.

Partnership Parke County received $1,000.00
The grant will help with the rental fee for the Commercial Building during the Parke County Fair.

Parke Heritage Middle/High School Buddy Bags received $2,000.00
The grant will help feed food deprived students on the weekends.

Child-Adult Resource Services received $3,467.00
The grant will help purchase durable furniture for a new program at the Parke Center, which will serve senior citizens with intellectual disabilities.

Parke County Community Handbell Choir received $2,047.00
The grant will help with refurbishing handbells used by the choir during performances.

June 2020

Parke County Resource Center $3,000.00
The grant will help supply the food pantry with additional food due to the rapid growth of families served.

Mountie Mission, Inc. $1,000.00
The grant will help provide new clothes, school supplies, and backpacks to low income families.

Kid Care Project, Inc. $1,585.00
The grant will help purchase Filemaker Pro, software that tracks clients and inventory.

September 2020

Putnam County Giving Tree, Inc. $5,000.00
The grant will help supply Christmas gifts and ALDI's gift cards to families in need residing in Putnam County.

Waveland Volunteer Fire Department $6,047.00
The grant will help purchase and install a Generac Generator. The generator will allow the volunteers to provide additional service readiness and back up support for regular and mutual aid areas.

Clay County Genealogical Society, Inc. $234.80
The grant will help purchase 12 signs to direct visitors to their location.

2019

January 2019

Putnam County Operation LIfe EMS received $2.444.00
The grant helped purchase 2 Viking Series 800 MHZ portable radios

New Market Community Volunteer Fire Dept. received $6,016.49
The funds helped replace existing and non-operational handheld area, portable area and scene lighting.

Parke- Vermillion County Humane Society received $5,000.00
The grant helped replace a furnace, upgrade electrical system, and fix dryer venting/exhaust issues.

Buddy Bag Program (Riverton Parke Jr/Sr High School) received $2,817.50
The grant will help provide needy students with food over the weekends

March 2019

Mountie Mission Inc.received $1,000.00
The grant helps provide new school clothes, school supplies, and backpacks to children in need.

Partnership Parke County received $500.00
The grant will help with rental fee of Commercial Building at the Parke Co. Fair for local vendors to setup and showcase their services and products

Parke County 4-H Fair Inc. received $4,000.00
To help with replacement of gutters on Commercial Building

Camp MoCoRobo received $2,800.00
This grant provides support for 20 campers to attend camp which helps them develop skills in computer programming, leadership and problem-solving

Clay County Historical Society Inc. received $3,000.00
The grant will fund replacing hazardous sidewalk on west side of museum.

June 2019

Rockville Rotary Club received $4,000.00
The funds will pay to install water hydrants and fencing, rock for parking area, and overhead garage door on building at Parke County community garden.

J.U.G.A (Bellmore) Volunteer Fire Dept. received $4,386.49
The grant will be used to purchase 8 medical response bags and all supplies necessary to fully stock them.

  September 2019

Family Health & Help Center received $1,575.00
The grant will help replace automatic doors (Tormax TTXII Operator) & AED LifePak CR Plus/Express battery and pads.

Phil The Need, Inc. received $9,000.00
To help with software renewal and the purchase of a box truck for volunteers to use when distributing furniture/appliances to needy residents.

Parke County Veterans Office received $875.00
The funds were used to purchase a new computer to help complete claims for Parke County Veterans more quickly.

Parke County Community Food Pantry received $2,000.00
The grant was used to purchase a pallet stacker to help stack pallets of food.

Putnam County 4-H Poultry Club received $5,400.00
The grant helped install cement floor & drainage in poultry barn.

Marshall Volunteer Fire Dept. received $5,675.00
The grant was used to purchase a gear extractor to wash their gear to remove cancer causing carcinogens.

2018

March 2018

Montgomery County Youth Service received $1,793.99.
Grant will be used towards purchase of a laptop and software, hygiene bags along with creation of a video on how best to use hygiene products. Will also be used to develop an animated video for the purpose of suicide prevention.

Russellville Community Volunteer Fire Department received $9,696.66
Funds will be used to purchase two 800 mhz handheld radios. The addition of these two radios will help with communications and safety to all responses.

Partnership Parke County received $500
Funds will help with rental fee of the Commercial Building during the Parke County 4-H Fair. Local vendors/exhibitors are invited to setup booth space which allows them to showcase their products/services and have interaction with the community.

Lyford Volunteer Fire Department received $5,000
Grant will help purchase a portable pump to be used on their tanker truck. The pump will also be able to be removed and used to pump water from creeks, ponds, rivers or any other static water source.

Southwest Parke Community Schools received $5,000.00
Money will help support the establishment of Innovation Labs in each elementary building. These labs will contain materials and curriculum for STEM/STEAM activities to grow students in the 21st Century skills necessary for today's workforce.

June 2018

J.U.G.A (Bellmore) Fire Department received $3,370.96
The grant will be used toward the purchase of equipment for cardiac arrest management & training.

Parke Heritage Dance Team received $1,900.00
The funds will be used to assist with 50% of the start up costs associated with the dance team.

Parke County Sheriff's Office received $4,447.96
The grant will help pay for the replacement of 11 bullet proof vests.

September 2018

MainStreet Rockville received $3,000.00
The grant will help pay for landscaping, weed control, signage and benches.

ORU Photos