Operation Round Up

Heartland members can help those in need with our Operation Round Up program. The program has been established so that Heartland members have a quick and easy method of making financial contributions to non-profit organizations that help people throughout rural eastern and southeast Kansas.

Once enrolled in the program, members’ electric bills are rounded up to the next highest dollar. The additional amount, which will range from 1 cent to 99 cents each month, is collected and pooled into a fund for distribution to non-profit organizations that promote the health and well-being of the residents of Southeast Kansas. All funds collected through Operation Round Up are donated to non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable organizations that provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and otherwise serve those in need.

“Operation Round Up is a program used by electric cooperatives across the United States to support local communities,” says Heartland Member Services and Communication Specialist Ron Graber. “It is our hope that all of our members will choose to lend a helping hand to those in need by simply rounding up their monthly electric bills.”

For example, a consumer’s monthly bill of $82.73 would be automatically rounded up to $83.00, with the additional 27 cents going to the Operation Round Up fund. On an annual basis, Heartland will collect roughly six dollars for each participating member, and that pool of money will be allocated to a variety of worthy causes throughout the area we serve.

Members who participate in Operation Round Up will give an average of 50 cents each month, $6 a year. With Heartland issuing more than 100,000 electric bills each year, the potential is there for our members to make a big impact to a lot of worthwhile organizations. The funds collected through the Operation Round Up program are administered by a panel of volunteers selected by the Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, and come from across Heartland’s 12-county service area. The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas provides assistance in managing the Operation Round Up contributions.

Operation Round Up Grant Application Form

Grants awarded this past year include:

A Meal in His Name for free community meals in Girard;

The Alliance of Churches for Christian Living in Allen County for food for those in need;

The Care to Share cancer support organization in Fort Scott;

Concern Inc.’s food pantry in Mound City;

The Erie Area Ministerial Alliance for holiday food baskets;

First Baptist Church of Cherokee’s food pantry;

First Baptist Church of Mound City’s community programs;

First Baptist Church of Pleasanton’s food and community programs;

First Baptist Church of Riverton’s food pantry;

First Christian Church of Pleasanton's community assistance program;

First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown’s food pantry;

First United Methodist Church of Columbus’ food pantry;

Friends of the Library in Linn County food program;

God’s Pantry at First Christian Church of Chanute;

Grady’s Kids in LaCygne;

Hope Unlimited’s domestic violence shelter in Iola;

The Humbolt Community Food Pantry;

Immanuel Lutheran Church’s community garden in Hepler;

Camp scholarships for Greebush’s Learning Tree Institute;

Supplies for Life Christian School in Columbus;

Mana Depot food pantry in Columbus;

Mound City Christian Church’s assistance for those in need;

Mound City United Methodist Church’s assistance for those in need;

Neighbor 2 Neighbor food pantry in Chanute;

The Orange Swan Free Store at Galesburg First Christian Church;

The Reach Out Food Pantry in Prescott;

Supplies for disabled students at Southeast Kansas Interlocal 637 in Pittsburg;

The Wings of Warriors program in Iola.

ORU Application Form