Flathead Electric's Gift of Light brightens holiday season

Flathead Electric Cooperative announced this week that 14 donors gave the literal gift of light to 17 co-op members in need this holiday season.

The Gift of Light program, established in 2010, allows donors to support anonymous members struggling to pay their electric bills. Donations to date in 2021 total $7,953.44, with $3,691.90 being credited to selected members’ accounts in that same time-frame. The gifts can remain anonymous, or the co-op can send a certificate in the donor’s name.

Recipients of the Gift of Light typically don’t quite meet guidelines for other forms of assistance, but they have faced unusual circumstances of which the co-op is made aware. As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility, the co-op cannot simply forgive electric bills for those in need, but it can, and does, encourage its members to help their fellow members as they are able.

“The Gift of Light allows us to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community, who are out of options and need help with their electric bills,” said Ross Holter, director of Energy and Member Services at Flathead Electric. “Caring about all members of our community is who we are as a cooperative.”

“You can just feel the weight lifting off their shoulders,” is how Flathead Electric employee Stacie Erickson describes the impact of the Gift of Light program. Erickson helps administer the program, and she said recipients are often overwhelmed with gratitude by the gesture. The Gift of Light is available all year long but seems especially helpful over the holiday season. Contact the co-op for more information on providing the Gift of Light for someone special on your holiday list, or give Erickson a call at 406-751-4483.