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 2025 second-quarter grant opportunities must be submitted no later than July 15. Grant recipients will be announced following the Central Electric Member Care Trust Board meeting in August.
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 $45,000 back into the local communities this quarter to provide assistance to worthy projects. Grants were awarded to the following nonprofit organizations:
- Baptist Children's Home - $3,000 for Residential Wilderness Camp for children with behavioral challenges.
- Chatham County 4-H - $3,000 for summer camp scholarships.
- Chatham Education Foundation - $3,000 for the Books on Break program.
- First Tee - Sandhills - $3,000 for junior golf and life skills programs.
- Five N Two Food Pantry - $3,000 for food for low income families.
- HAVEN of Lee County - $3,000 for new beds and linens for the domestic violence shelter.
- Let's Do It Together Foundation - $3,000 for summer leadership camp for middle school students.
- Outreach Mission, Inc. - $3,000 for the Hand Up to Housing program.
- Partnership for Children and Families - $3,000 for summer reading stations.
- Pocket Volunteer Fire Department - $3,000 for tools to assist in rescue operations and automobile accidents.
- Habitat for Humanity of Sanford - $3,000 for electrical items for homes for low income families.
- Temple Theatre - $3,000 for scholarships for youth educational theatre.
- The Salvation Army of Chatham County - $3,000 for emergency assistance for low income families.
- YMCA of the Sandhills - $3,000 for Teen Mental Health/Leadership programs.
- NC Mock Trials - $3,000 for high school mock trial competition.
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.
