Cuivre River Electric provides utility assistance to Cool Down St. Louis

For more information contact: Lonnie Tucker, Communications Specialist, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, (800) 392-3709, ext. 4837, [email protected]

Cooldownstlouis.org received a $4,000 Operation Round Up grant from the Cuivre River Electric Community Trust to provide utility assistance to low-income, elderly and disabled cooperative members, who are experiencing financial hardships.

“The Operation Round Up grant will be combined with additional resources to provide utility assistance and education to Cuivre River Electric members living in Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties,” said Cooldownstlouis.org board chairwoman Melanie DiLeo.

“Need has no boundaries. Our mission to provide financial assistance is progressing outward from St. Louis to the individuals and families living in St. Charles County and the surrounding rural counties,” said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, honorary board co-chair of Cooldownstlouis.org.

Heat-Up St. Louis is a non-profit charity founded in 2000 as an independent regional non-utility, all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c) (3) energy assistance, public education and advocacy charity. During the summer, Cooldownstlouis.org focuses on educating families with small children, the disabled and elderly about the dangers of heat related illnesses and deaths. More than 70,000 individuals received assistance last year through online and phone-bank counseling and referrals, one-time supplemental utility assistance grants, or the installation of brand new air conditioners.

“More than 300,000 people’s lives have been impacted with more than $13 million in Cooldownstlouis.org and Heatupstlouis.org assistance since the organization was founded in 2000. Last year the charity provided more than $700,000 in utility assistance to about 13 Missouri and Illinois counties, including Cuivre River Electric’s service area of Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties,” added Chairwoman DiLeo..

Cooldownstlouis.org volunteers manage resource hotlines providing utility counseling and referrals to area social service and community action agencies like the North East Community Action Corporation for those in need. To learn more about this regional charity, visit www.cooldownstlouis.org or call (314) 241-7668.

Cuivre River funds are made available through Operation Round Up and administered by the seven-member volunteer Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board. These funds help support individuals, families and organizations within the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative service area. The goal of Operation Round Up is to help address needs in the areas of health, youth, education, home weatherization, community and emergency services that cannot be met with other resources. More than $4.9 million has been awarded to applicants since the Operation Round Up program began in 1997.

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative provides electricity to more than 63,000 homes and businesses in Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties. For more information on Operation Round Up and Cuivre River Electric Cooperative visit www.cuivre.com or call (800) 392-3709.