For the 10th consecutive year, EnerStar Electric Cooperative, Paris, has awarded the CoBank Sharing Success matching grant. The grant’s purpose is to help cooperatives support causes and organizations important to the communities they serve. To date, EnerStar and CoBank have partnered together to donate $125,000 to charitable organizations.
This year, 14 volunteer fire departments throughout the co-op’s service territory shared the $20,000 grant with each department receiving $1,428.57.
“Each department decided how they could best use the funds based on their specific needs,” said EnerStar’s Angela Griffin. She explained funds were being used for items such as a thermal imaging camera, a new heart defibrillator and a 40-hour grain bin rescue class.
“These organizations play a critical role in the rural communities that EnerStar serves, and we are thankful to the individuals who volunteer,” said Griffin. She added that as a not-for-profit electric cooperative, EnerStar is guided by seven cooperative principles, which include “Cooperation Among Cooperatives” and “Concern for Community” and this donation is well-suited to those principles.
