We all know it often takes more than a good idea and a commitment to get the desired results. Many times, the power of volunteerism and the human spirit needs to be supplemented with money.
Through the Commitment to Community Grant program, St. Croix Electric Cooperative twice annually provides seed money to fund local projects and programs with grants up to $500 each. The funds set aside for these grants is supplemented by members’ contributions through the Community Cents program, where monthly bills are rounded up to the next dollar and the “change” is put toward the grant program.
At their November 2021 meeting the St. Croix Electric Cooperative Board of Directors approved grants totaling $7,300 to 16 community organizations, including two first time recipients* (information listed below is taken directly from applications):
Assistance & Resource Center, Inc. (ARC) (serving River Falls & Ellsworth): Funds will be used for vehicle repair: “We have seen a huge uptick in requests for vehicle repair and fuel only gas cards. Good news - folks are getting back to work! Bad news - their vehicles are on average 15 years old and in need of repair and the price of gas is high.”
Basics for Local Kids (serving St. Croix County & Pierce County): Funding will be used to purchase boots, snow pants, coats, and/or water-resistant gloves in needed sizes. Specifically at the time of this application, we are short on boys medium size gloves, women size 7 boots (for kids/teens), and adult snow pants in all sizes for teens and bigger kids.
*Best Christmas Ever (serving St. Croix County, Pierce County, Polk County & Dunn County): The purpose behind the Best Christmas Ever is to make a lifelong lasting impact on families who have fallen upon hard times and truly change their lives for the better. This will allow the local St. Croix County Captain Heather Ditzler to step up and change a family’s life that has fallen on tough times through no fault of their own during 2021.
Comfort Quilters (serving St. Croix County, Baldwin, Hammond, Hudson & Roberts): Funds will be used to purchase batting and thread to complete quilt tops and backs members create and donate. All work and materials for the top and back of the quilt are donated by members and others.
Friends of the Glenwood City Library Inc.: Grant will be used to purchase larger print books of which the average cost is $30 or more each. The need is for both fiction and non-fiction categories.
Hudson Area Backpack Program: Grant funds will be used during the school year to purchase snacks for the school counselors at the 4K, Elementary and Secondary Schools to give to students who come to their offices hungry during the school day. Being hungry has an enormous impact on a student's ability to learn. We consider food a basic school supply - as important as paper and pencils!
Hudson Area Youth Resource Committee: Grant funds will be used to help reduce transportation barriers that affect young people and their families by providing gas cards, taxi rides and other transportation support to young people and families.
Moms and Dads against Meth, Inc. (serving St. Croix County, Polk County, Pierce County, Dunn County, Burnett County, Barron County, Eau Claire County): Grant funding will be used to support expenses of MADAM’s primary community outreach project – Butterfly House Transitional Sober House for Women.
*New Richmond Middle School Counseling Department: Grant funds will be used to offer new students in the school a 'Tiger Pride' tshirt as they enter the district. A vital key to students feeling connected to peers and a school community is identification with that community through school apparel.
SCC Senior All Night Party (serving Hammond;Roberts): The money will be used for purchasing prizes and entertainment for the St. Croix Central Senior all night party, a lock in for the Seniors to celebrate with their friends.
Spring Valley Community Cancer Fund (serving Spring Valley & Wilson): Funds will be distributed to recipients in the form of gift cards.
St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners Association (serving St. Croix County;Pierce County): Funds will be used to update reference books used by volunteers at places like the St. Croix County Fair, Pierce County Fair and local farmers markets where they set up their booths to offer horticultural information to the public.
St. Croix Valley Sexual Assault Response Team (serving St. Croix County;Pierce County;Polk County;Barron County): Funds will be used for general operations to ensure the services currently provided, health examinations, advocacy, community outreach and education and continue to support physically and emotionally those who have been affected by sexual assault.
The Salvation Army Grace Place (serving St. Croix County): Funding request will support the following programs: Basic needs; Employment; Housing; Budgeting; Transportation; Adult Education; Tutoring for children; Children’s Programs; Mental health and AODA.
The Sharing Tree (serving Hudson & Somerset): Funds will be used to purchase school supplies. The Sharing Tree’s average cost per backpack with all necessary supplies for the 335 students assisted in 2021 was $42.
Woodville Senior Center (serving Wilson & Woodville): Funds will be put toward a portable microphone speaker system to be used for musical entertainment, educational speakers, and daily general announcements and put into the “Remembering our Homebound” Fund.