Operation Round Up

Operation Round Up is a significant way LREC members can come together to make a difference in our community. Extra change generated from rounding up the monthly bills of participating members is used to fund requests by local charitable organizations. These small amounts — between $0.01 to $0.99 — all add up to make a big impact. Members can also elect to donate a fixed amount each month.

For example: if your bill is $72.36, it is rounded up to $73.00 and the extra 64¢ goes to the Operation Round Up Trust Fund. Multiply all that extra change by the thousands of generous LREC members who participate, and it makes a BIG difference in our local communities. This unique program has provided funds for purchasing various items for local fire departments, groups serving youth, medical equipment for those in need, donations to food shelves and many other worthwhile causes. 

Operation Round Up—small change that changes lives.

RECENT GRANT RECIPIENTS

Funds were granted to 132 local organizations throughout Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s service area from the Operation Round Up Program. A total of $30,500 was awarded by the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees at the Oct. 6, 2025 meeting. Organizations receiving funds were:

• $500 to Kaddatz Galleries for art classroom accessibility upgrades
• $500 to Someplace Safe – Pelican Rapids for emergency resources cabinetry and shelving
• $1,000 to New York Mills Art Retreat for family-friendly Halloween event
• $2,500 to Gather & Give, Inc. for coffee shop start-up to support local communities
• $2,500 to LSS Camp Knutson for camp bathhouse renovations
• $3,500 to BIO Girls for 2026 Lake Region Area program support
• $5,000 to Camp Joy for cabin door and window replacements
• $5,000 to Empowering Kids Perham for Social Group Programming scholarships
• $5,000 to Erhard 4^th of July Parade Committee for playground equipment upgrades
• $5,000 to Friends of Pelican Library for computer replacements

The total amount awarded since 2007 is $918,840.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Operation Round Up is a voluntary charitable fundraising program through Lake Region Electric Cooperative. The trust fund is overseen by a volunteer, nine-member board of trustees, who are selected to serve by LREC’s board of directors. Current ORU Trustee Board Members are:

PREVIOUS GRANT RECIPIENTS