Rounding up bills makes a difference

Flathead Electric’s Roundup for Safety Program has been making the rounds around Northwest Montana for 18 years, ensuring our communities are safer places to live.

Recently, two organizations benefited from the money that is generated by Flathead Electric customers who round up their bills to the nearest dollar.

With that money — the average cost per member is about $8 per year— the cooperative awards grants to local nonprofits for projects that improve life safety. The grants are distributed by an independent board of directors.

Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp received a $2,000 grant and was able to purchase 25 new whitewater life jackets with the money.

Ian Bartling, camp wilderness coordinator, says the life jackets will be primarily used to keep campers safe this summer as they float the North Fork of the Flathead River.

“We want to thank those who round up their bills to make this possible, and especially thank Flathead Electric Cooperative for coordinating this great program,” Bartling said.

The Badrock Fire and Quick Response Unit in rural Columbia Falls gave a hearty thank-you to Flathead Electric for an award it received from the Roundup for Safety Program.

The money enabled the unit to purchase a much needed washer/extractor, especially designed for cleaning the protective clothing used while fighting structure fires.

Secretary/treasurer and EMT Teresa Baller said the firefighters had been using an older, heavy-duty machine donated by one of the firefighters.

“Their turnout gear is maybe five times as heavy as regular clothing,” Baller said. “That alone, especially once it’s wet, will easily wear out a regular washing machine. Plus, the gear is often covered in soot, smoke and chemicals that shouldn’t be brought home to be washed.”

The department had been requesting the special equipment on other grants for years, Baller said. Then Brandon Barthel, one of the unit’s new firefighters, took on the task of applying for the Roundup for Safety grant.

“There are many small agencies in the Flathead Valley that rely heavily on donations, grants and special programs to procure what they need to operate safely and efficiently,” Baller said. “The Roundup for Safety Program helps tax-exempt organizations complete projects that provide safety benefits for the communities that Flathead Electric Cooperative serves.”

According to Flathead Electric’s website, since 1997, the Roundup for Safety Program has awarded more than $3 million to organizations, supporting more than 900 projects.

You can find an application and more about how to apply for an award at  www.flatheadelectric.com/roundup/roundup.html.

For more information about Roundup for Safety, contact Mike Radel at Flathead Electric at 751-4429.

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.