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Pioneer Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Charitable Foundation has awarded grants to 27 volunteer fire departments (VFD) serving Butler, Dallas, Lowndes and Wilcox counties. The departments each received $250 grants to assist them with operating expenses and equipment purchases. 

Christi Scruggs, Pioneer Electric Communications Director, explained that safety is the company’s top concern. 

“We share a common goal of serving our communities and protecting their safety,” said Scruggs. “The safety of our employees and the general public is our top concern. We hope that the grants assist these departments in accomplishing that shared mission.”

Operation Round Up is funded by Pioneer Electric members who voluntarily round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. All funds stay in the community to benefit local organizations and individuals in need. Since the program’s inception in 2021, Operation Round Up has awarded more than $200,000 in grants.

Eugenia Folds, secretary and treasurer for the Bolling Sandcut and Wald (BS&W) volunteer fire department, said the grant was truly a blessing and the department deeply appreciates it. 

“Our volunteer fire department does not have a lot of financial aid, so it is such a help and an encouragement to receive this,” Folds said. “It’s just amazing that this Pioneer roundup foundation has been able to help as many people as they have helped. You don’t think about how rounding up just a few cents on your power bill could do so much, but it has really helped a multitude of people.”

Recipients were Beloit #2 VFD, Boykin VFD, BS&W VFD, Brushey-Mashey Creek VFD, Calhoun VFD, Carlowville VFD, Central VFD, Collirene VFD, Craig Air Force Base VFD, Friendship, Industry and Welcome (FIW) VFD, Forest Home VFD, Garland VFD, Hicks Hill/Black Belt VFD, Liberty VFD, Midway-Damascus VFD, Oak Hill VFD, Pine Apple VFD, Providence & Mount Pisgah VFD, Pigeon Creek VFD, River Oaks VFD, Sardis VFD, Searcy VFD, Shackleville VFD, Snow Hill Furman VFD, Spring Creek VFD, Starlington VFD and Tyler VFD.

For more information about Operation Round Up or to apply for a grant, visit www.pioneerelectric.com/operation-round.