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 2025 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 $29,000 back into the local communities this quarter to provide assistance to worthy projects. Grants were awarded to the following nonprofit organizations:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina - $3,000 for critical upgrades at the O.T. Sloan Teen Center as part of their Workforce Development Hub initiative.
- Chatham County Literacy Council - $3,000 to support the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program.
- Chatham Drug Free - $1,500 to support substance use and abuse prevention through their Celebrate Recovery 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 firefighting equipment including a hose and one booster reel nozzle specifically for fighting woods fires.
- Family Promise of Lee County - $2,500 to support the temporary shelter for families experiencing homelessness.
- Harnett County Buddy Backpack - $3,000 to provide food for students to take home from school on the weekends.
- Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County - $1,500 for their Community Empowerment program.
- Lee County High School Academy of Life Sciences - $3,000 for a classroom exam table to enhance hands-on learning experiences.
- Old Gilliam Mill Park - $3,000 for updgades to the facility.
- The Confidence Project - $3,000 to provide comfort backpacks for children experiencing stressful and traumatic situations.
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.