The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. On June 18th, the board awarded $22,250 in grants to local non-profit organizations including: Advocates Against Domestic Abuse, Aitkin Alzheimer’s Team, Aitkin Children’s Center, Aitkin County Historical Society, American Cancer Society-Aitkin Relay for Life, Knights of Columbus Cuyuna Range Council, Lakes Area Chaplaincy, Lakes Area Music Festival, Lunch Bunch, Mille Lacs Car Club, Minnewawa Sportsmen’s Club, Onamia High School Construction Club, Riverwood Foundation, Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, Sustainable Farming Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The total amount of grants awarded since the start of Operation Round Up has reached an astounding $1,164,679!
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 of the funds raised go into the trust fund which is donated back to the community. Board members include: Shirley Adolphson, Fred Tessmer, Loren Larson, Pat Scollard, Diane Landstad, Linda Weimer, Jack Gilbertson, and Lowell W. Larson.
To receive a Trust application, contact Deb Chute at 218-927-8221 or 1-800-450-2191. The Trust Board meets the second Tuesday 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.