Broad River Electric Charities has distributed $20,000 to 12 local organizations and agencies that will help provide food, shelter, education, support, and protection for citizens of the Upstate.
The Jerusalem Project – a collaborative ministry of local churches and youth groups that assist residents with home projects such as roof repair, wheelchair ramps, and painting – received a total of $5,000 from the Operation Round Up® fund. Jerusalem Project helps communities in Spartanburg County as well as Cherokee and Union Counties.
Another ministry that focuses on home repair for the needy, Salkehatchie Summer Service Union Camp, was awarded $2,000. The Union Camp, one of dozens across the state, is based at Grace United Methodist Church.
Miracle Hill Ministries, which operates homeless and recovery shelters in Cherokee and Spartanburg Counties, received a total of $4,500. Each of the community’s rescue missions were awarded $1,500 grants. The Miracle Hill Homes for Life, a shelter for young men aged 16-21, received an additional $1,500.
The Salvation Army of Cherokee County will use a $1,000 donation to fund their ministry to feed the hungry. The S.C. Hunters and Land Owners for the Hungry will also receive $1,000 for their cause, which provides game meats to other organizations that feed the hungry, as well.
District 5 Family Ministries, a collaboration of area churches and community members that provides support and crisis intervention services to the people in the Lyman/Duncan communities of Spartanburg County, will use a $1,500 grant to assist with electric, water and medication needs.
Cherokee County’s KNOW(2) initiative received a $500 for their summer learning and STEM programs. The Union County Disabilities and Special Needs also received $500 to support programs that provide unique experiences and activities for their clients, which they may not be able to attend otherwise.
The Union County Sheriff’s Department received $4,000 to help purchase and train a K-9 drug detection dog.
“These donations come from the generosity of our members,” said Broad River Electric CEO and Charities Board member Terry Mallard. “So, we make sure to distribute the funds in ways that will help their communities and fellow citizens the most. These recipients do an outstanding job of fulfilling their worthwhile missions.”
Donations to the selected beneficiaries come from Broad River Electric’s Operation Round Up® program. Each month, participating members’ account balances are rounded up to the nearest dollar. That extra change goes to the benevolent fund that assists organizations and goodwill missions in and around Broad River Electric’s service area.
Funds from Operation Round Up® are distributed through Broad River Electric Charities, Inc., which is governed by a 7-member board representing the cooperative and the three counties it predominantly serves – Cherokee, Union and Spartanburg.
Since its inception in 2010, the program has allowed Broad River Electric Charities to donate nearly $650,000 to dozens of organizations and entities across the Upstate. Organizations wishing to request funds can contact the cooperative to begin the application process. The next distribution will occur in early August.
Broad River Electric Charities is a philanthropic subsidiary of Broad River Electric Cooperative, which serves more than 18,000 homes and businesses in Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union and Newberry counties in South Carolina and Cleveland, Polk and Rutherford counties in North Carolina.