Operation Round Up is a volunteer program in which Central Electric Members can choose to round up their electric bill to the next whole dollar each month, in order to help those in need. The money is used to provide assistance for all kinds of worthy projects in Chatham, Harnett, Moore, Lee and Randolph communities. For example, if your bill is $65.74, Central Electric will round up your bill to $66.00. The extra 26 cents will go into the Central Electric Member Care Trust fund. The average yearly contribution is around $6.00 with the most being $11.88.
Operation Round Up targets non-profit organizations, groups and charities that are currently serving members of Central Electric. The guidelines used for awarding Operation Round Up funds address food, shelter, clothing, education, health care and vital community service needs.
While Operation Round Up is a voluntary program, the more support received from our members, the more lives will be changed! To participate or learn more, call the Central EMC office at 919-708-1638.
Let Operation Round Up Make a Difference in Your Community!
Applications for 2025 first-quarter grant opportunities must be submitted no later than January 15. Grant recipients will be announced following the Central Electric Member Care Trust Board meeting in February.
Operation Round Up is a community development program funded by the voluntary contribution of Central Electric members to the Central Electric Member Care Trust, Inc. Charitable donations are made by the Trust Board to worthy projects in the Central Electric service territory (Chatham, Harnett, Lee, and Moore counties). Organizations, groups and charities in these counties are eligible to apply as long as they meet the specific funding guidelines established by the Member Care Trust Board of Directors. Find out more on whether or not your group is a likely candidate by reviewing the Guidelines for Disbursement of Funds.
Applicants must be established and share information on the following four items: tax exempt status, mission statement, financial statement and use of funds. Unfortunately start-up groups cannot participate.
Recent Grant Recipients
Operation Round Up, powered by voluntary donations from Central Electric members, put $35,000 back into the local communities this quarter to provide assistance to worthy projects. Grants were awarded to the following nonprofit organizations:
- Union Taylors Community Center - $3,000 for building repairs and National Night Out.
- Heart of Deep River Historical Society - $3,000 for the expansion of the oral history program.
- Children's Cancer Partners - $3,000 for financial assistance to families whose children are battling cancer.
- American Legion Post 0347 - $3,000 for building repairs.
- Ole Gilliam Mill Park - $3,000 for a zero-turn lawnmower for park upkeep.
- United Way of Chatham County - $3,000 for the Bold Goal Program to combat poverty.
- Vass Community Food Pantry - $2,500 to provide assistance for food-insecure families, focusing on the elderly.
- NC Indepdenent Colleges and Universities - $2,500 for the i-Belong Program serving low-income students.
- Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County - $3,000 for the Community Empowerment Program.
- Chatham Drug Free - $3,000 for the Celebrate Recovery substance use and abuse prevention program.
- Chatham Literacy Council - $3,000 for the Transforming Lives program supporting English as a second language literacy skills.
- STARS Charter School - $3,000 for classroom technology.
Past Recipients
If you no longer wish to participate in Operation Round Up, fill out the ORU opt-out form. Once you complete the form, print it out and mail it to our office at 128 Wilson Road Sanford, NC 27332 or email it to us at mossm@cemcpower.com. You may send it as a PDF attachment or scan and send the printed version.
