The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. This March, the board awarded $33,300 in grants to local non-profit organizations including: Aitkin County Rivers & Lakes Fair, Aitkin Grad Blast, Aitkin Youth Bowling Association, Aitkin Youth Center, Angels Anonymous, Central Lakes College Food Pantry, Crow Wing County Victim Services, Local Food Shelves (Aitkin, Aitkin Community, Cuyuna, Garrison, McGregor, Family Pathways, Palisade, St. James), Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota, Mille Lacs Indian Museum / Minnesota Historical Society, Onamia High School, Support Within Reach, The Community Effect, and The Jaques Art Center.
The total amount of grants awarded since the start of Operation Round Up has surpassed $1.7 million! Operation Round Up is a voluntary program at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative where our generous members round- up their electric bill payment to the nearest dollar. All the funds raised go into the trust fund which is donated back to the community. Board members include: Lisa Anderson, Kim Waffensmith, Mavonne Prokop, Bethany Sellers, Charles Schotzko, Marna Wahl, Bob Nelson, and Doyle Jelsing.
To receive a Trust application, contact Deb Chute at 218-927-8221 or 1-800-450-2191. Applications are accepted at any time. Those submitted a week before the quarterly meetings will go to the board. Anything submitted after will be seen at the next board meeting.
MLEC is a not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative owned by the members we serve. We provide service to over 13,000 members in parts of Aitkin, Crow Wing, and Mille Lacs counties.
