Medina Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program has been making a difference in the lives of community members since 2006. The ORU committee, made up of nine cooperative members, meets quarterly to review applications and carefully make donation decisions. They met in early June to look over applications submitted by May 7.

The committee made the decision to provide each of the following families with $900. These families suffered catastrophic property damage as a result of the tornado and hailstorm that hit Medina County on April 28.

• Alexander and Luisa Rivera (Hondo)
• Beatriz Garcia (Hondo)
• Cecily Guerra (D’Hanis)
• Darlene and Kyle Freehauf (Hondo)
• Elizabeth Campos (Hondo)
• Erlinda Robles (Hondo)
• Estella Mejia (D’Hanis)
• Mary Olstad (Hondo)
• Melisa Sepulveda (Hondo)
• Yolanda and Baldemar Rivera (Hondo)

The ORU committee also awarded the following to applicants who were seeking assistance with medical bills after extended hospital stays.

• Rose and Jose Chavez (Yancy) - $500
• Jose and Denise Musquez (Uvalde) - $1,000

Operation Round Up is funded by Medina EC members who choose to have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next whole dollar. The spare change is then added to the ORU fund to help community members in need. ORU has helped families pay medical bills, attend therapies, repair homes after fires and more.

If you or someone you know needs financial help, apply for a donation from Operation Round Up. Applicants do not need to be Medina EC members, but must live in one of the 17 counties served by the cooperative. The next deadline is August 6. Application and information are available at MedinaEC.org/ORU.