Electric co-op plans blood-donation event

Flathead Electric Cooperative is seeking those who would consider making a monetary donation and/or making an appointment to donate a pint of blood during the co-op’s Pulse Project event, scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12. The Pulse Project is designed to support the community by achieving two goals: providing energy assistance for members in need, and collecting donations for our two blood service organizations, the American Red Cross and Vitalant.

The co-op’s inaugural Pulse Project in 2018 succeeded in collecting an American Red Cross Montana community drive record 139 pints of blood, attracting 47 first-time donors, and raising over $13,000 in energy assistance funding, which helped 70 co-op members facing a temporary financial crisis.

At Flathead Electric Cooperative, employees often encounter hardworking members struggling to pay their bills. These individuals are typically experiencing a temporary financial crisis and may not qualify for traditional low-income assistance. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, Flathead Electric’s resources to help their members are limited.

The Pulse Project has helped create many happy endings. For example, an elderly woman visited the co-op hoping to work out a payment plan. She had a history of paying her bills on time but couldn’t afford just this one month because she had to purchase new medication. Rather than make the woman choose between her electric bill and the medication, staff was able to pay her bill out of the fund that the Pulse Project provides for.

Pulse Project supporters will enable Flathead Electric to greater assist more members of the community (and those donating blood could save up to three lives). Blood donors will also receive lunch and prizes, and first-time donors will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

For more information or to support the project, call 751-4483 or visit www.flatheadelectric.com/pulseproject.