Our lives have undoubtedly been changed by the Coronavirus pandemic. Disappointment, hopelessness, and uncertainty are common emotions as we wonder what will happen next. But Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative has something to say to the communities it provides power to: Although various events are being cancelled around us, three co-op values are not: Hope, kindness, and love.
That’s why the not-for-profit electric cooperative put up billboards in northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana as a reminder. While it feels like we are being fed a never-ending stream of bad news, PPEC instead wants to shed light on all the good deeds and acts of kindness happening in the region. The company’s Good News Dashboard, available at www.PPEC.coop, highlights positive stories and short tidbits of inspiration intended to motivate us all to come together during the crisis.
“As we continue to navigate the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must remember that regardless of how our lives are impacted, some things do not change,” says PPEC CEO George Carter. “The most important things aren’t cancelled. How we go forward and how we treat strangers, members, friends, and family will continue to define us.”
Cooperative roots and community values: Hope above all else
As Carter points out, this goes back to the co-op’s roots. PPEC was formed more than 80 years ago by the rural community banding together on the foundation of hope for a better life with electricity – all during one of the nation’s most difficult times: The Great Depression. Since PPEC’s inception in 1935, the co-op has been defined by these same three values reflected on the billboards: hope, kindness, and love.
“Now more than ever, these themes hold true to our values as co-op members, as community leaders, and as small businesses trying to stay open during these challenges,” Carter says. “These billboards reflect our foundation. An event may be cancelled, but hope is not. Members may be struggling to pay their electric bills or to keep their business open, but we’re here to assist with kindness and an assurance that your co-op will help you get through this pandemic. Finally, as we all try to adjust to whatever the new “normal” will be, it’s love for one another that will pull us through.”