The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. This December, the board awarded $20,500 in grants to local non-profit organizations including: Aitkin County Environmental Services, Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity, Cuyuna Range Youth Center, Great River String Ensemble, McGregor Post Prom Committee, Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Mille Lacs Trails, Nexus-Mille Lacs Family Healing, Onamia After Prom Party, Riverwood Auxiliary, St. James-Cross Catholic Outreach, True Friends, and Wind and Free. The total amount of grants awarded since the start of Operation Round Up has reached an astounding $1,454,729!

Operation Round Up is a voluntary program at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative where our generous members round-up their electric bill payment to the nearest dollar. All the funds raised go into the trust fund which is donated back to the community. Board members include: Lisa Anderson, Kim Waffensmith, Darlene Stigen, Bethany Sellers, Charles Schotzko, Becky Joerger, Bob Nelson, and Doyle Jelsing.

To receive a Trust application, contact Deb Chute at 218-927-8221 or 1-800-450-2191. The Trust Board meets the second Wednesday in March, June, September, and December. Applications are accepted at any time. Those submitted a week before the quarterly meetings will go to the board. Anything submitted after will be seen at the next board meeting.