The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. This September, the board awarded $22,600 in grants to local non-profit organizations including Advocates Against Domestic Abuse (HOPE), Aitkin Alano Society, Inc., Aitkin County Homeless Coalition, Aitkin County Search and Rescue, Aitkin County TRIAD, Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project, Long Lake Conservation Center, Mille Lacs Health System Auxiliary, Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, South Aitkin First Responders, and Wealthwood Rod and Gun Club. The total amount of grants awarded since the start of Operation Round Up has reached an astounding $1,434,229!
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, Darlene Stigen, Bethany Sellers, Charles Schotzko, Becky Joerger, Bob Nelson, and Doyle Jelsing.
To receive a Trust application, contact Deb Chute at (218) 927-8221 or (800) 450-2191. The Trust Board meets on the second Wednesday in March, June, September, and December. 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. Our headquarters is located at 36559 US Highway 169, 1 mile east of Aitkin, MN.