4-H Shooting Sports Receives H.U.G.S. Grant
Pioneer Electric H.U.G.S. (Helping Us Give to Society) presented Stevens County 4-H Shooting Sports with a $2,000 grant this past November. Money from the grant will be used to purchase new shooting equipment including new air rifles, BB guns and a hand pump.
“The goal of our shooting sports program is to teach our youth good gun safety habits,” said Ron Honig, shooting sports project leader. “They can use these skills for a lifetime of safe shooting.”
Honig stated that several of the guns the project currently uses are more than 10 years old; new guns will be rotated in to replace the older models. Honig expects the new equipment to be high enough quality to last for many years.
“Students enrolled in programs like the Steven’s County 4-H are learning valuable life skills,” said Anita Wendt, vice president of energy services. “Whether it’s cooking, sewing or woodworking: they can take the skills they learn into the real world and often use them to give back to their communities.”
Pioneer Electric’s H.U.G.S. program seeks projects with a focus on improving the communities it serves. Funds for the program are generated through the cooperative’s material (steel, copper and aluminum taken out of service) recycling program.
Sullivan School Art Program Receives Grant Funds
This past November, the Pioneer Electric H.U.G.S. team surprised Stephanie Manis and Sullivan Elementary Art program with $5,000 in grants from the Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) program and an additional $2,500 from CoBank’s Sharing Success program. The school will use the funds to purchase new classroom furniture and replenish art supplies.
“The tables and chairs in the art room currently do not match,” said Stephanie Manis, Sullivan Elementary art teacher. “Having new tables and chairs that match will not only bring cohesiveness to the room but will also provide a better working area for my students.”
The new tables and chairs will assist with Manis’ color-coding method for sectioning groups in her classroom. Manis hopes that improving the students working environment will encourage them to positively express themselves through art.
“School programs are a great example of the type of projects H.U.G.S. was created to help with,” said Ruby Terrazas, energy services coordinator and H.U.G.S. team member. “By creating welcoming and fresh environments in the classroom, students can be more engaged and get the most out of their education.”
From new outdoor learning spaces to textbooks, Pioneer Electric’s H.U.G.S. program has aided schools and teachers throughout the 10 counties it serves.
“The H.U.G.S. program is a great tool for teachers who are determined to create positive learning environments for their students,” said Anita Wendt, vice president of energy services at Pioneer Electric. “No idea is too big or too small. I encourage any educator to look at what we can offer them through this great grant program. The possibilities are truly endless.”
Community-minded projects are eligible to receive funding through the H.U.G.S. program if they meet the guidelines listed in the application. Guidelines and the funding application are available in the “My Community” section of Pioneer Electric’s website at www.pioneerelectric.coop. Members with questions about the program or applying may contact Anita Wendt by calling 620-356-1211 or emailing awendt@pioneerelectric.coop.