Fredericksburg, Va. – Due to the generosity of over 27,000 Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) member-owners, 14 local organizations were recently awarded grants totaling more than $72,600. These awards were made possible because of the donations made to The Power of Change, REC’s member-funded charitable program.
Through The Power of Change, REC member-owners can either round up their bill to the next whole dollar, make a one-time donation or give a set monthly amount. Those donations are then awarded twice each year to non-profits and charitable organizations throughout the communities REC serves.
Recipients of The Power of Change spring 2021 funding awards include:
Center for Rural Culture, counties of Goochland, Hanover and Louisa, received $2,000 to purchase basic video equipment to produce educational videos.
Faithworks, Inc., Winchester, received $5,000 to provide vouchers to support 25 families as they transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
Fauquier Fish, Fauquier County, received $5,000 to purchase food to be distributed to children during the summer months.
Hero’s Bridge, Fauquier County, received $4,600 to serve elderly, low-income veterans in the region by providing hands-on services to include home delivered meals, housing repairs, transportation and to purchase senior-friendly tablets so they can connect with others.
Literacy Volunteers – Winchester Area, Frederick County, received $7,100 to purchase student textbooks, workbooks, teach books and to provide access to digital content.
Madison Learning Center, Inc., Madison Counties, received $5,127 to upgrade local playground equipment and include additional seating and pea gravel.
New Vision Kingdom of God Ministries, Spotsylvania County, received $5,000 to purchase two freezers and food items for the local food bank.
Northern Virginia 4-H Education & Conference Center, Front Royal, received $14,870 to purchase digital walkie-talkies to help cover 229 acres and to modify the emissions designator on the Center’s FCC license from analog to digital.
People Incorporated of Virginia, Culpeper County, received $2,000 to provide personal protective equipment for volunteers, as well as to purchase bags for food distribution and materials for outreach.
Servants at Work, Inc. – Virginia, Fredericksburg area, received $3,000 to build two wheelchair ramps for local residents with long-term ambulatory disabilities.
Spotsylvania Emergency Concerns Association, Spotsylvania County, received $3,377 to renovate the food rooms, buy updated flooring, obtain new food scales and carts to better comply with the requirements of the food bank.
Stanardsville Volunteer Fire Department, Greene County, received $8,758 to update the old fluorescent lighting to LED tube fixtures, purchase and install key-card access locks to the main emergency entrance doors to help increase security.
VFW Post 2217 – James Madison, Orange County, received $1,057 to provide the necessary assistance to continue their goal of helping veterans, youth and other local nonprofits.
Wildrock, counties of Albemarle, Greene and Louisa, received $5,785 to support the Pop-Up Play program in the fall to minority and underserved populations in Albemarle County, the purchase of new equipment designed to operate the Pop-Up Play in accordance with the Virginia State COVID-19 Regulations and Guidelines.
“A member’s donation may only be a few cents each month, but those donations add up quickly and can make a huge difference for local organizations aimed at helping our communities,” said Casey Hollins, managing director of Communications and Public Relations. “Enrolling in The Power of Change only takes a few minutes, and the impact on others can last a lifetime.”
REC members who would like to help make a difference in their communities can learn more at myrec.coop/power-change. Donations can be a set monthly amount, a one-time donation or members can have their bill rounded up to the next whole dollar.
Nonprofits looking for funding can submit an application for The Power of Change by 5 p.m. on August 10 for the fall 2021 round of awards. Applications can be found on REC’s website at myrec.coop/power-change.
REC provides electric service to over 170,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
