In 2019, FreeState members generously gave $113,412 in spare change through the Operation Round-Up® program, benefitting local organizations. This year brings the total donated since the launch of the program in 2017 to $194,892. The FreeState Community Foundation facilitates the program with the help of a volunteer member committee that reviews and awards grant funds quarterly.
The committee allocated $48,480 in 2017 and $64,980 in 2018, all made possible by the generosity of members participating in the program.
No matter how great or small the act, every time we give back, we strengthen our community. It only takes a few coins a month to add up to a significant change for our local communities and volunteer-driven organizations across the FreeState service territory.
For more information on how to apply for funding visit www.freestate.coop/operationroundup. APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE: MARCH 1, JUNE 1, SEPTEMBER 1 AND DECEMBER 1 OF 2020. Please notify our billing department if you’d like to opt out (or in) to Operation Round-Up® by calling 800-794-1989.
The following organizations and their specific projects were funded in 2019.
The Auburn Park Project – $14,500
The Auburn Park Project is an independent organization tied to the City of Auburn with the sole purpose of building a better quality of life in and around the community. The park project provides wellness and involvement at zero cost to citizens.
Stull UMC – Back to School Project – $1,500
The church’s “Back to School” project has been an exciting event for the community since 2010. Every summer names are collected for children in need of school items and in August the children pick up these supplies and are also given back-to-school clothing from the clothes closet the church maintains year-round.
Capper Foundation – $3,016
For the purchase of a height-adjustable changing table to benefit both caregivers and wheelchair users. The table lowers to accommodate transfers, and then rises to a comfortable working height. The Capper Foundation provides residential and day services for medically fragile adults with disabilities, outside of a nursing home.
Royal Valley Community Learning Center Childcare – $5,000
The funded project includes updates to the dedicated classroom including floors, storage and paint. Funds will also provide books, toys, games, art and school supplies.
Silver Lake Public Library – $3,000
The Silver Lake Public Library continues to work on the expansion and renovation project with the goal to improve library services. Proposed improvements include staffing areas and storage to allow the staff more room, open up areas for more library materials and improve counter space and storage areas.
KSU Mesonet – $9,000
A weather data network called the Mesonet, includes 60 stations across Kansas. Each station measures wind speed/direction, air temperature/humidity, solar radiation, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, soil temperature and soil moisture. Funding provided to the project will add a weather station to the network in Jefferson County.
Shawnee County Fire District No. 2, Auburn – $3,500
The fire department in Auburn received funding to purchase the Stokes Basket and grain bin rescue tools to increase the department’s ability to provide prompt rescue services in the rural community. The purchase of both items will allow the department to provide mutual aid rescue services to surrounding districts.
Race Against Breast Cancer – $2,000
The Race Against Breast Cancer is a privately funded, non-profit organization working to improve health through education, access, early detection and breast health awareness in northeast Kansas. They accomplish this through providing breast health education materials to those in medical and financial need through a partnership with area health clinics. The RABC also pays for screening and diagnostic mammography services for those in medical and financial need. The group assists 400 to 600 individuals per year.
Perry-Lecompton Elementary – $3,649.46
Funding provided multisensory literacy instruction and provided staff with the curriculum, tools and training needed. Students can explore the sensory hallways daily for exercise and sensory input. Funding will also create a literacy lab in the Perry Elementary library for the benefit of all students. . The students will move in small groups through structured tasks that focus on literacy skills like phonemic awareness. The literacy lab will change weekly to keep kids engaged in learning.
God’s Storehouse, Meriden – $10,000
A change in landowners has given the organization a unique opportunity to invest in the long-term sustainability in the organization with the purchase of adjacent land.
Jefferson County Fire Dept. No. 9, McLouth – $25,000
To further perform livesaving procedures, the fire department received funding to purchase a 2011 x-series cardiac monitor AED that is compatible with the local ambulance service.
Dover Food Pantry – $1,000
Funding will be dedicated to the ongoing support of the pantry to provide food and toiletry items to those in need.
Jefferson County Historical Society – $2,500
The historical society asked for funding to restore the boardwalk/porch area on the front side of the Reynolds General Store. Without needed repair to the building, the porch will pull away from the main building and allow moisture to enter the building.
K-State Research and Extension – Douglas County – $2,000
K-State Research and Extension offers a free, out-of-the-classroom educational field trip called Day on the Farm. Funding provided assists the Lawrence Public School District in transportation costs.
Oskaloosa Public Library – $1,900
With library volunteers providing the labor, the funding will help to develop an outdoor community area with a concrete table, benches, planters for flowers, drainage extenders and other small items.
Topeka YMCA/Rock Steady Boxing – $2,300
Rock Steady Boxing is a unique exercise program, based on training by boxing pros, and adapted to people with Parkinson’s disease. The program incorporates boxing moves into a class of calisthenics, cardio and flexibility training. The funding will provide pay to instructors, items for class, the licensing fee for the program and training and certification for the coaches.
Silver Lake Fire Dept. – $13,305
Funds from Operation Round-Up will help develop a grain bin rescue team trained and capable of performing rescues forShawnee County and other neighboring counties. The department would like to purchase equipment for the team, including ropes, harness and other tools for a rescue that can also double for water rescue, accidents and extractions.
Valley Falls EMS – $7,242
Funding will assist the department in purchasing a power lift cot for one of the two ambulances. These cots help volunteer staff with safely lifting patients. The cot will also decrease the likelihood of volunteer injuries.
Meriden Antique Engine and Threshing Association – $2,500
The Bloomfield Church is part of the living history town, Cottonwood Station. Funding is to help the restoration process.