The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. On September 17th, the board awarded $22,700 in grants to local non-profit organizations including: Aitkin Boy Scouts Troop 52, Aitkin Community Meal, Aitkin County Friends of the Arts, Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity, Aitkin County Homeless Coalition, Crisis Line and Referral Service, Deerwood Lakes Lions, Garrison Seniors, Home and Away Ministries, Junior Achievement Aitkin County, Mille Lacs Trails Snowmobile Club, Onamia Fire & Rescue, Palisade Area Community Kids Education Resource, Reading Early Assists Development, and Wild & Free. The total amount of grants awarded since the start of Operation Round Up has reached an astounding $1,187,379!
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 of the funds raised go into the trust fund which is donated back to the community. Board members include: Shirley Adolphson, Fred Tessmer, Loren Larson, Pat Scollard, Diane Landstad, Linda Weimer, Jack Gilbertson, and Lowell W. Larson.
To receive a Trust application, contact Deb Chute at 218-927-8221 or 1-800-450-2191. The Trust Board meets the second Tuesday 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.