OPERATION ROUND UP – SECOND QUARTER GRANTS AWARDED

The Carroll White REMC Operation Up board of trustees approved nine second quarter grant recipients. A total of $10,500 was distributed.

The cycle’s largest grant, for $3,000, was awarded to West Central High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). This career and technical student organization is an integral part of the school’s family and consumer sciences curriculum.

“Students are competing at the FCCLA Nationals, after competing at the Indiana FCCLA Convention in March,” wrote grant applicant Stephanie Thilges, the FCCLA advisor. The national competition will be held in San Diego this summer. Through the Operation Round Up grant, Thilges and four West Central students will be able to attend the event.

“Students will expand their experiences and bring back new knowledge to their family, friends and community,” Thilges wrote. “They will attend a Leadership Academy and I will attend an Advisor Academy to help strengthen our organization and help it grow.”

The Boys and Girls Club of White County LLC received a $2,500 grant for its summer Brain Gain program/Robotics in Manufacturing (RIM) Camp. “Brain Gain is our summer enrichment program,” wrote grant applicant Dan Fry. “Kids spend four hours rotating through five stations that focus on fun academics, physical education, art, STEM and social/emotional learning.”

There are three weeks of RIM Camp. “Each week, we will host a different age group,” Fry said. “Kids will learn to use technology that is featured in many manufacturers today. We have a different manufacturer present weekly for our industry 4.0 station.” Participants get real live, hands-on experience in areas such as 3D printing, coding, robotic creation and manipulation.

The Monticello Union Township Library received $1,500 which will be used to upgrade the exterior lighting to LED lighting. “The improvements will provide ample illumination and security for patrons and staff,” wrote grant writer Candace Wells, the library’s director.

Operation Round Up granted the Town of Brookston $1,500 which will be used for the new fire station project. “Brookston’s Fire Station is past its useful life,” wrote grant applicant Joe Butz, Town Council president. “To repair the existing station would cost more than to build a new station.” Brookston is applying for a grant from Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

The Carroll County Community Center in Flora received a $1,000 grant for its Summer Day Camp program. “We sponsor summer camp annually for local families in our community,” wrote grant writer Halie Pedersen. During the camp, the children go on field trips, swim and do art projects.

Delphi Community Middle School received a $600 grant which will be used for supplies to help students develop math skills. “My goal is to make learning math fun in my classroom,” wrote grant writer Cassandra R. Gasser, a teacher and lifelong resident of Delphi. 

Gasser, who is in her seventh year of teaching sixth grade math, plans to replace dry erase boards with Boogie Boards. “Boogie Boards allow you to use your finger or stylus to write on them and with a quick click of a button, they are erased and ready to go on to the next problem,” Gasser said. 

Two area non-profit organizations received $400 grants this cycle. The Burlington Public Library is using its grant to purchase an outdoor commercial-grade picnic table for community use. “During the pandemic, we borrowed a table for outdoor use,” wrote grant writer Shelia Friedline, library director. “Community members were able to have access to our free WiFi while enjoying the local ambiance. The addition of the new table would be the first step in upgrading our outdoor presence for the community.”

Roosevelt Middle School’s choir, the Roosevelt Singers, received $400 to be used to help fund a field trip to Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. Choir Director and grant applicant Laura Lee will be taking eighth grade students to see the musical, “Hello Dolly.”

Carroll Junior Senior High School After Prom Committee received $200. The grant will help provide activities and a safe venue for students attending prom. 

For more information on how to participate in Operation Round Up, visit our website at www.cwremc.coop.