Due to the generosity of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative member-owners, REC’s The Power of Change recently awarded over $111,000 to local organizations that make a positive difference throughout the REC service area.
Through The Power of Change, over 25,000 REC member-owners either round up their bill to the next whole dollar, make a one-time donation or give a set monthly amount. Those donations are then awarded to non-profits and charitable groups throughout the communities REC serves.
Local recipients of The Power of Change funding include:
Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity, Winchester, received $5,000 to support the expansion of critical home repair to multiple families.
Blue Ridge Hospice, Winchester, received $2,500 to make quality end-of-life care accessible and support the families effected by death and to advocate for patient comfort, dignity and choice.
Clark County Historical Association, Berryville, received $700 to host a series of Historical Craft Workshops, taught by archivist Melanie Garvey.
Cooking Autism, Inc., Fredericksburg, received $4,200 to go towards gathering the special needs community together for a series of important life-skills and cooking programs.
Emerging STARS, Spotsylvania County, received $15,000 to go towards purchasing a van to provide transportation for 15 young adults with developmental disabilities to go out into the community to experience new activities.
Friends of the Rappahannock, Fredericksburg, received $500 to go towards supporting the staff and fuel for transportation.
Friends of Spostylvania County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Inc., Spotsylvania County, received $22,209 to go towards leadership training, instructor certification, supplies, equipment and reading materials.
G Cubed Ministries, Stafford County, received $8,000 to go towards their Extraordinary Young Minds program, which focuses on students’ good character, mutual respect and the core values of leadership, resources and partnerships.
Ledwith-Lewis Free Clinic, Tappahannock, received $15,000 to purchase 20 Freestyle Libre monitoring systems and sensors for 12 months to improve diabetes control and overall patient health.
Legal Aid Works, Fredericksburg, received $5,000 to provide legal information to disadvantaged members of the community of their rights.
Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, received $3,070 to go towards their Suicide Prevention Education program to be provided to Caroline Schools.
Rappahannock Area YMCA-Caroline Family YMCA, Ruther Glen, received $10,000 to offer five-week summer learning program for elementary students to address learning loss and youth development.
Stafford Food Security, Inc., Stafford County received $5,000 to pay for the facility.
St. Jude of Massaponax/Knights of Columbus Council 13599, Fredericksburg, received $2,760 to go towards providing ten families with elementary-school children in need to receive free healthy groceries every month for one year.
St. Luke Community Clinic, Front Royal, received $5,000 to purchase and install two new dental chairs.
Youth Development Center Inc., Winchester, received $7,750 for their Baker’s Anchor Mentoring Summer Fest Scholarship Program.
"A member’s donation could be a few cents each month, but they add up quickly and can make a difference for local organizations," said Casey Hollins, director of Communications and Public Relations. "Enrolling in The Power of Change only takes a few minutes to sign up, but the impact can last a lifetime."
REC members who would like to help make a difference in their communities can learn more at thepowerofchange.org. Gifts can be a set monthly amount, a one-time donation or members can have their bill rounded up their bill to the next whole dollar.
