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, and Lee 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 the 2026 fourth quarter grant opportunities must be submitted no later than October 15. Grant recipients will be announced following the Central Electric Member Care Trust Board meeting in November.
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 $27,845 back into the local communities this quarter to provide assistance to worthy projects. Grants were awarded to the following nonprofit organizations:
- Changing Destinies Ministry - $3,000 to provide support for survivors of human trafficking.
- Chatham Drug Free - $1,500 for the Celebrate Recovery program supporting substance use and abuse prevention.
- Chatham Literacy Council - $3,000 to support their English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.
- Children's Cancer Partners - $3,000 to provide financial assistance to families whose children are battling cancer.
- Crains Creek Volunteer Fire Department - $3,000 for a new fire hose.
- Haw River Christian Academy - $2,500 to support their Fine Arts department.
- Outreach Mission, Inc. - $3,000 to support the Hand Up to Housing program.
- Rosebud Theatrical Productions - $1,345 to assist with production costs for summer youth camps.
- Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care - $3,000 to support women living in a domestic violence shelter.
- The Confidence Project - $3,000 to provide Confidence Kits for students experiencing homelessness.
- The Hispanic Liaison- $1,500 to support the Community Empowerment Program.
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.
