VEC presents $2,750 in grants

Volunteer Energy Cooperative’s VECustomers Share program awarded a $2,750 in grants to Roane  County organizations in January.

VECustomers Share board member Alton Lingerfelt, center, presents a grant check to Rachel Burgess and Emily Goldschmitt of the Midway High School Cheerleader Booster Club. The club is among those in Roane County receiving grant funding in January.

Roane groups collecting grants in January include the Midway High School Cheerleading Booster Club, which received a $1,000 grant; South Roane County Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a $1,000 grant; and the Midway High School PTO garnered a $750 grant.

The program, founded in October 2001, has donated more than $4 million to various community-service organizations.

VECustomers Share is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization covering VEC’s 17-county service area.

The foundation’s funds come from Volunteer Energy members who have opted to allow VEC to round their electric bills up to the next whole dollar.

VECustomers Share contributions average 50 cents per month per customer.

The extra change is pooled with that of other members and distributed by the foundation’s board of directors, who all serve as volunteers.

Grant applications are available at any Volunteer Energy Cooperative Customer Service center, by calling 423-334-7051, or at www.vec.org.