Members of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative recently donated $13,300 to 12 local charities and community projects through the cooperative's Operation Round Up program. 

About 80% of PPEC members round up their electric bill and donate those pennies to this fund, making a huge impact in the co-op's northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana communities.

Participating members round up their monthly electric bills to the next dollar, with the extra pennies being used to help fund charities and groups in their communities. Each quarter, the funds are dispensed to local causes that applied for funding. 

The most recent donation recipients include: 

• Children's Hunger Alliance: $1,000 to purchase weekend meal packs for local schools. 
• Crime Victim Services of Lima: $1,000 to fund their violence prevention program.
• Family Healthcare of NW Ohio: $1,500 toward Dental equipment for procedures.
• First United Methodist Church of Van Wert: $1,500 for Operation Back to School supplies, backpacks, and hygiene items.
• Hope's Harbor, Fort Wayne: $1,100 toward family expenses for overnight stays at the children's hospital.
• Lima Symphony Orchestra: $1,000 toward the annual Young People's Concert.
• Miller City-New Cleveland High School HOSA: $1,000 for the International Leadership Conference costs in Texas. 
• Operation Clean Duds: $1,000 toward free laundry services for Paulding County.
• Ottoville Fire Association: $1,600 to purchase Piercing Nozzle Kit for electric vehicles and concealed fires.
• Paulding County EMA: $600 for tarps to use during storms.
• Paulding High School History Club: $1,000 toward juniors' and seniors' trips to Gettysburg, Washington, D.C., and Charlottesville. 
• United Way of Putnam County: $1,000 for the Annual Back-to-School Giveaway (backpacks and supplies).

Operation Round Up was started in 2010 as a way to give back to PPEC's communities. Groups in both Ohio and Indiana can apply. 

Organizations can apply for Operation Round Up assistance by contacting Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op's Marketing and Communications Manager, Samantha Kuhn, at skuhn@ppec.coop or by clicking here. If you want to participate by rounding up your monthly bill, call PPEC's office at 800-686-2357. The average member's donation is about $6 per year.