Goodies for You Receives $2,000 Cuivre River Electric Grant
Hundreds of Missouri servicemen and women stationed around the world will receive care packages this Memorial Day from Goodies for You (G4U) Unlimited, thanks to a $2,000 grant from Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program.
G4U requested the Operation Round Up grant to help defray the considerable shipping costs. “Our mission is to mail over 500 care packages each month,” says President/Director Sharon Kreh. “The cost associated with mailing the care packages are over $1,700 each month,” says Kreh.
Sharon Kreh founded the non-profit group Goodies for You Unlimited in March of 2005 to assemble and ship care packages to servicemen and women serving our country overseas. In 2009 G4U prepared and shipped more than 3,300 care packages that included soap, shampoo, razors, hand sanitizer and lotion, sun block, lip balm, tooth paste, mouthwash, non-perishable food items, snacks, magazines, small games, puzzles and a handwritten letter to show support for deployed troops. Over 16,000 packages have been mailed since 2005.
“A small portion of the items in the care packages are donated by supportive members in our local communities,” says Vice President/Director Phyllis Gebhards. “Each month G4U spends about $1,500 to purchase items for the care packages,” says Gebhards. Hand written letters of support and artwork from local students, 4H members and youth groups are also included in every package. “It’s extremely important to tell our soldiers we have not forgotten them,” says Gebhards.
Over thirty G4U members from Innsbrook, Warrenton, Wentzville and Wright City meet the second Friday of each month at the Warrenton National Guard Armory for packing day. According to Kreh, many of the G4U volunteer staff have family members serving their country overseas. “The Operation Round Up grant will enable us to send about 1,000 care packages to National Guard Units from St. Charles and Warrenton during May, June and July. We could not have done this without your help,” says an emotional Kreh.
“We are very thankful for the support of the Cuivre River Electric members who contribute to Operation Round Up,” says Grant Administrator Robert Braendle. “Hundreds of men and women proudly serving in the American military will receive care packages this Memorial Day. It is our way of commemorating their service and the sacrifices they are making while protecting our freedom,” says Braendle.
Additional information is available by contacting Sharon Kreh at (636) 745-3962. Donations are welcome and can be sent to: Goodies for You (G4U) Unlimited, 1124 Charrette Ct. Dr., Innsbrook, MO. 63390.
Operation Round Up (ORU) was founded to help address unmet needs in the areas of health, youth, education, home weatherization, community and emergency services. Grant funds come from the generosity of thousands of Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) members who donate to the Community Trust through ORU by voluntarily paying the round up amount on their monthly electric bill. These funds are available to help individuals, families and organizations in the CREC service area. ORU funds are administered each month by the seven member volunteer Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board.
Grants since the program’s inception have been awarded to 1,819 families and individuals, 1,338 students (scholarships) and 793 organizations. Community service providers have received 35% of funds, 26% has provided health care assistance (medical bills, medication and therapy services), and 24% has provided scholarships and education program support. In addition, the needs of youth have received seven percent of funds, emergency service providers have received five percent, and three percent has helped provide long-term energy efficiency improvements through home weatherization. More than $3 million has been awarded to applicants since the ORU program began in 1997.
CREC was established by local residents in 1941 to provide electricity in portions of Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties where electricity was not available. The cooperative now serves more than 58,500 homes and businesses. For more information on Operation Round Up and Cuivre River Electric Cooperative visit www.cuivre.com or call 800-392-3709, ext. 230.
Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board Secretary Dan Elliott (left) presents a $2,000 Operation Round Up grant to Goodies for You (G4U) Unlimited Grant Administrator Robert Braendle (right) and volunteer Barb Braendle. The grant will help defray shipping costs of care packages sent to servicemen and women serving their country overseas. Photo by Lonnie Tucker.