Local children receive support from Intercounty Electric
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Linda Roberts (First Baptist Church for Licking School District), Vanessa Haneline and Alan Quick (IECA).
Heather Kidwell (IECA), Dana Buschmann (Raymondville R-VII) and Dallas Chipps (IECA).
Debbie Brown (Phelps County R-3) and Heather Kidwell (IECA).
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Recently, Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association presented checks totaling $28,500 to 19 school backpack programs. These backpack programs help support students with food-insecurities. Each of the 19 schools in IECA’s service territory have an organization or program dedicated to providing kid-friendly, nutritious food to those students who just need a little extra to get them through the weekends.
One of IECA’s cooperative principles is “Concern for Community,” and while the co-op’s primary focus is serving their members’ energy needs, the member-owned organization recognizes the importance of supporting its local communities. According to Heather Kidwell, Director of Communications, “One of our primary goals at the cooperative is to improve the lives of our members. These kiddos may be some of our youngest members, but they are future of our local communities.” It was in that cooperative spirit that IECA teamed up with partner organizations Sho-Me Power and CoBank to make this investment in our local students. “These backpack programs really were the perfect recipients of the grant funds, especially with the rising costs of groceries,” shares Kidwell. The three organizations wanted to help support the local backpack programs for how they enhance the quality of life for the children they serve.
“We thought this would be a great way to support and show our gratitude to the organizations that provide for children who might go hungry otherwise,” says Matthew Duncan, Board President of IECA. “Their efforts to support local children are greatly appreciated. These organizations certainly improve lives and strengthen the communities they serve.”
If you’re looking for a way to help your own community, please consider reaching out to your local backpack program to see how you could help. Like other non-profits, these programs operate based on donations and volunteers. Our hope is that you too recognize the food needs of our local students and might be able to help.
Sho-Me Power is IECA’s transmission cooperative. Sho-Me Power provides reliable, low-cost electric energy to Intercounty and eight other rural electric cooperatives. CoBank is a cooperative bank, which provides loans and financial services to IECA and other rural power systems across the nation. Sho-Me Power and CoBank each partnered with IECA in making these donations possible in an effort to help build vibrant rural communities.
