December 14, 2020 - Concern for Community is one of the Seven Cooperative Principles by which Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative operates. As in the summer, MLEC put that Principle into practice and partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority on a fifty-fifty matching grant to contribute $30,000 to community agencies supporting local residents during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Non-profit organizations in all five counties, served by MLEC, received $6,000 each.
“Our hometowns continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19, and many are facing challenges they’ve never faced before. We see the community hurting and want to help lighten their burden,” says MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “By working with organizations as they support local families with groceries, education, pay rent and other expenses, we can stretch their resources to help more people.”
Hickman County - The Centerville Fire Auxiliary received $4,000. Hickman County Rescue Squad received $1,000. Hickman County Senior Citizens Center and Helping Hands of Hickman County each received $500. Each organization helps support local families.
Houston County – Bethesda Community Mission, Inc. received $6,000 to assist additional families facing job loss with utilities, rent, groceries and other expenses.
Humphreys County – United Way of Humphreys County established a COVID-19 Family Support Fund and will use its $6,000 grant to help with rent, utilities and basic financial needs.
Lewis County – Two non-profits each received $3,000. Lewis County Food Bank will purchase additional food for their increased demand brought on by more families facing unemployment due to COVID-19. Lewis County Senior Center will use the funds to keep the center open and cover the related expenses of masks, thermometers, and cleaning supplies, as well as serve member and non-member needs.
Perry County – Perry County School Nutrition received $6,000 to help offset the hardship of COVID-19. Extra food costs, as well as required changes to their operating procedures, created unexpected expenses as they continued to feed children during the pandemic.
“In the spirit of public power, we are honored to partner with local power companies like MLEC to address the unprecedented challenges facing those we serve,” says Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president and chief external relations officer. “TVA has a mission of service to make life better for the people of the Valley, and providing these funds to address immediate needs is one way we can help.”
See MLEC's Facebook page for additional pictures. https://www.facebook.com/MeriwetherLewisEC