A number of area non-profits have been awarded money through Great Lakes Energy's People Fund.

 

Angels of Action here in Big Rapids was awarded $1,000 for summer family engagement, nutrition, and literacy programs. Bread of Life Food Pantry in Baldwin was awarded $2,000 for food and supplies for the greater Lake County area and Reed City Area District Library was awarded $2,000 for backyard games and seating.

 

Since its inception in 1999, the People Fund has awarded more than $4.2 million in grants to organizations in the cooperative’s 26-county service area which stretches from Kalamazoo to the Straits of Mackinac.

 

“The People Fund is yet another example of the cooperative business model making a positive difference in the lives of the community,” Great Lakes Energy President/CEO Shaun Lamp said. “This program allows us to combine the power of the cooperative’s reach with the generosity of our members to make a positive impact in the communities we serve.”

 

Funding for the program comes from members of the electric cooperative who agree to have their monthly bills rounded up to the next whole dollar. Members are encouraged to enroll in the People Fund online at gtlakes.com or by contacting Great Lakes Energy’s office.

 

 

Central Area:

• Angels of Action, Big Rapids: $1,000 for summer family engagement, nutrition, and literacy programs.

• Bread of Life Food Pantry, Baldwin: $2,000 for food and supplies for the greater Lake County area.

• Caritas Food Pantry, Custer: $2,000 for purchasing canvas bags for the pantry.

• Carr Community Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Branch: $2,500 for turnout gear for new volunteer firefighters.

• Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm Inc., Free Soil: $3,000 for roof repair, asphalting for handicap, and a hard drive.

• Eagle Village, Hersey: $1,393 to convert current fluorescent lighting to LED to increase energy efficiency.

• Gateway to Success Academy, Scottville: $2,000 for a garden and sustainability center, contingent on raising the rest of the funding needed.

• Grant Township Fireman’s Association, Manistee: $1,900 for task-appropriate turnout gear.             

• Habitat for Humanity of Mason County, Scottville: $1,000 for their ramp program.

• Irons Seventh-day Adventist Church, Irons: $3,500 for the Irons Community Center and Food Pantry for fill, limestone, and excavation around the building, lawn, and parking lot.

• Lake County Habitat of Humanity, Baldwin: $2,500 towards home construction, contingent on raising the rest of the funding needed.

• Lincoln Township Fire Department, Reed City: $2,400 for firefighter safety communications equipment.

• Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, Inc., Mecosta: $1,000 for #13 and #14 honor flights and missions.

• Norman Township Fire Department, Wellston: $1,500 for Seek Thermal imaging cameras.

• Osceola County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Reed City: $7,000 for purchasing vital safety equipment for the CERT team.

• Pathfinder Community Library, Baldwin: $2,399.97 for replacing two aging public computers and one staff computer.

• Reed City Area District Library, Reed City: $2,000 for backyard games and seating.

• Riverside Park Campground, Scottville: $3,000 for the City of Scottville Riverside Park & Campground public restroom refurbishment project.

• Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association, Ludington: $1,000 for an informational panel for the fog signal building.

• Sandcastles Children's Museum, Ludington: $5,000 for the Hola! Speaking Spanish at Sandcastles! exhibit.

• Staircase Youth Services, Ludington: $500 for the Back-to-School Backpack Bonanza.

• Western Michigan Fair Association, Ludington: $1,500 for roofing repair.