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The start of the 2016 school year brought the launch of a new East Central Energy community initiative called Teacher Totes.
“We have a vital interest in the communities we serve,” said Cheryl Hagfors, CFO/VP of Member Services at ECE. “We believe it’s important to support local schools, organizations and programs that enhance the overall quality of life for our members. Concern for Community is the 7th Cooperative Principle, and the Teacher Totes project demonstrates that we put our values into action.”
The Teacher Totes initiative was prompted by personal experience and media reports about the perennial need for supplies in school classrooms. ECE staff reached out to six elementary schools in the co-op’s service territory: East Central, Hinckley, Ogilvie, Rush City, Milaca and Braham. Each school provided a list of the items that would be needed most.
Teacher Totes represent a collaborative effort by ECE employees from every department, who worked together to purchase and sort the supplies, assemble and deliver the totes.
In addition to a $5,000 corporate contribution from ECE, the Teacher Tote initiative was made possible by a matching grant from CoBank, a financial institution that supports the work of electric cooperatives in communities nationwide through its Sharing Success program.
