Roundup for Safety awards community grants

The Roundup for Safety Board awarded $37,225 in community safety grants to nonprofit organizations at its Sept. 8 meeting.

Those grants included a $7,500 grant requested jointly by the Kootenai Cross Country Running Team and the Kootenai Cross Country Ski Club.

Cross Country Coach Brittany Katzer requested pop-up tents with walls to protect runners and skiers from Northwest Montana’s mercurial weather. The teams are no strangers to competing in extreme heat, cold, and wind. This fall, there are 44 runners. This winter, over 100 skiers are expected to participate in the ski club, three days per week.

The teams also asked the foard for assistance in purchasing a first aid kit and water coolers to improve athlete hydration.

“Keeping our Libby athletes safe is of the utmost importance,”

Katzer told the Board, which agreed and noted the partnership between the cross country running and ski teams with approval.

Other projects funded during the September meeting included: $10,000 for Kidsport for fencing; $10,000 for Land to Hand Montana for building entrance; $8,000 for Libby Food Pantry for a covered walkway; and $1,725 for Calvary Chapel of the Flathead Valley for a child pickup system.

Roundup for Safety is a voluntary program for Flathead Electric Cooperative members who allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar, with the extra money going into a fund for community safety projects proposed by nonprofit organizations and considered by an independent board.

Since 1997, members of Flathead Electric Cooperative have rounded up their bills to a total of $4,541,182 in community safety project funding. To apply for community safety funds, visit www.flatheadelectric.com/roundup or call Courtney Stone at 406-751-1820. Grant applications are accepted on Flathead Electric Co-op's website and are due by the end of each month for consideration at the following month’s meeting.