The board of the Wood County Electric Charitable Foundation recently awarded $45,000 to four organizations that serve the citizens of Wood County Electric Cooperative’s 9-county territory. The total given to local groups since the first donation in 2017 has reached $403,707.

The WCECF is funded by members through Operation Round Up, with members donating pennies each month. When combined, these donations from across the entire co-op membership allow for a significant local impact. Money has gone to fund food banks, lifesaving equipment, playground projects, civic events, wheelchair ramps and many other worthy causes.

The recipients of these most recent grants, and the projects they will fund include Hawkins ISD Education Foundation ($7,500), which distributes resources and grants to teachers to be used to enrich learning opportunities at Hawkins ISD; Mineola ISD Education Foundation ($7,500) which awards grants to Mineola ISD staff for tools and programs to be used in the classroom that are not within the normal budget; The Community Food Bank of Franklin County ($25,000) to add a HVAC system and restrooms to their building so they can become more self-sufficient; and The Meals on Wheels Ministry ($5,000) which serves five week-day meals annually to over 2,000 clients in Wood, Upshur, Van Zandt and Smith Counties.

Trey Teaff, the foundation executive director, said, “Operation Round Up and the organizations it supports are all shining examples of the exceptional charitable works that bring such light to East Texas Communities. The generosity of our WCEC members is the catalyst behind these extremely meaningful and uplifting gifts.”