Northeastern REMC Grants Aid Whitley County Groups
Northeastern REMC has awarded $3,000 in grants through its Operation Round Up program to support two key organizations in Whitley County, Indiana. This funding, announced on September 3, 2025, helps local nonprofits provide essential services like youth education and food assistance amid rising community needs.
What is Operation Round Up?
Operation Round Up is a voluntary program run by Northeastern REMC, an electric cooperative serving northeast Indiana. Members can choose to round up their monthly electric bills to the next dollar, with the spare change collected into a fund for community grants.
This initiative has been active for years and has distributed over $130,000 to various causes. It focuses on education, health, and basic needs, reflecting the cooperative’s commitment to local improvement. In 2025, with economic pressures from inflation and job shifts, such programs play a vital role in filling gaps left by limited public funding.
Many electric cooperatives across Indiana run similar efforts, inspired by national models that emphasize community reinvestment. For instance, recent reports show other REMCs awarding thousands to nonprofits, highlighting a statewide trend toward grassroots support.
Details of the Latest Grants
The recent grants went to The Center for Whitley County Youth and Grace Lutheran Food Pantry. Each organization received funding to address specific community challenges.
The Center for Whitley County Youth focuses on student support through tutoring, mentorship, and social activities. It plans to use the money for books, tools, meals, and engagement items to help more kids succeed.
Grace Lutheran Food Pantry will buy vouchers for clients at Community Harvest Food Bank and stock its own shelves with food. This comes at a time when food insecurity has risen in rural areas, with national data from 2025 showing a 5 percent increase in demand for such services in Indiana.
These awards build on Northeastern REMC’s history of giving. Just last year, the program donated over $5,000 to four nonprofits in the region, supporting everything from health initiatives to youth programs.
Impact on Whitley County Communities
These grants make a real difference in Whitley County, a rural area where access to resources can be limited. The Center for Whitley County Youth serves hundreds of students each year, helping them build skills and confidence.
Local leaders note that such funding boosts long-term outcomes, like higher graduation rates and stronger community ties. For the food pantry, the support means more families can afford healthy meals during tough times.
Recent events, such as the 2024 solar project construction by Northeastern REMC in Whitley County, show the cooperative’s broader investments. That project aims to provide clean energy, potentially lowering costs and creating jobs, which ties into community stability.
Here is a quick look at how the grants break down:
| Organization | Grant Amount | Planned Use |
|---|---|---|
| The Center for Whitley County Youth | $1,500 | Academic materials, meals, and engagement tools |
| Grace Lutheran Food Pantry | $1,500 | Vouchers and food purchases |
This table illustrates the direct benefits, ensuring transparency in how funds help.
Statements from Leaders
Eric Jung, CEO of Northeastern REMC, praised the program’s role in community building. He said supporting these groups aligns with the cooperative’s core values of partnership and positive change.
Community members echo this sentiment, with social media posts from 2025 highlighting appreciation for local aid. One user noted how such grants help during recovery from natural disasters, drawing parallels to relief efforts in nearby areas.
Other REMC leaders across Indiana have shared similar views, emphasizing that member contributions turn small change into big impact.
How Members Can Get Involved
Anyone with a Northeastern REMC account can join Operation Round Up by opting in through their billing system. It costs about six dollars per year on average per member, yet it pools into significant support.
Benefits include:
- Direct help to local causes without extra effort.
- Tax-deductible contributions in some cases.
- A sense of community involvement.
With more people facing economic strain in 2025, participation could grow, leading to even larger grants in the future.
Looking Ahead for Community Support
As Whitley County grows, programs like this will likely expand. Northeastern REMC plans more awards later in 2025, based on member participation.
This ties into national trends where cooperatives invest in sustainability and aid, such as solar projects and nonprofit funding. Readers interested in similar stories can explore how other Indiana counties benefit from REMC efforts.
Share your thoughts on community programs like this in the comments below, or spread the word to encourage more participation.
