Through our participation in CoBank’s Sharing Success Program, we were able to provide donations to support four local community organizations. We are a member of CoBank, a cooperative lending facility, who matches donations made to four local non-profit charitable organizations selected by our Board of Directors. An application was available on our Sharing Success page last Spring and organizations are encouraged to look for the program to be available again next year.
Athens Area Food Pantry
A $3,500 total donation will support the pantry’s purchase of needed items from Central Illinois Foodbank at a discounted rate. The pantry serves income eligible households in the Athens Community School District with distributions the 3rd Saturday and following Monday each month.
(top left photo) Front row from left are MEC President Warren Goetsch and General Manager Alisha Anker, Linda Pedigo, Marie Basso, Sue Brune and Pennie Robertson. Back row Tom Brune, Rich Reed, Margaret Oliver and Linda Wasilewski.
“The Board of Directors recognizes the important role food pantries have in their communities and we are pleased to support this group of hardworking volunteers as they seek to fill this need in Athens,” says Anker.
Niantic Christian Church’s Sangamon Valley Backpack Program
A $6,000 total donation to the program in its 22nd year of providing backpacks and school supplies to students of the Sangamon Valley School District. This year over 225 students benefitted.
(bottom right photo) From left are committee member Kyleigh Covi, volunteer Stacy Marksbury, MEC General Manager Alisha Anker, MEC Director Don McMillan, volunteers Melissa Ebken, Debbie Moore and Amy Craig, Committee Chair Molly Stahl, committee members Breah O’Laughlin and Kristen Hunt.
“It was wonderful to see the excitement of the students choosing their bookbags full of supplies for the upcoming school year. We are pleased to have been able to help this group continue their work to ensure each student is set up for a successful year,” says Anker.
Petersburg’s Town and Country Women’s Club (TCWC)
A $7,500 total donation to TCWC supported phase one, new fencing and gates, of the club’s three-phase plan to revitalize the Jaycee Park in Petersburg.
(bottom left photo) From left MEC Director Dennis Ryan and General Manager Alisha Anker presented the donation to TCWC members Alissa Bilyeu, Trisha Rebbe and Whitney Canterbury at the co-op’s annual meeting of members on August 4th.
“We know the new park will be utilized by many of our members, their families and the entire community for generations to come and we are happy to play a small role in helping it come to life,” says Anker.
Virginia Christian Women’s Fellowship
A $3,000 total donation to support the group’s summer lunch program supplying free lunches for 12 weeks to children in the Virginia school district. This summer they fed 115-120 children each week.
(top right photo) MEC Director Jodine Tate and General Manager Alisha Anker presented the donation to a group of volunteers on their final packing day of the summer.
“The continued dedication of this group of volunteers to fill a need in their community is admirable and we are pleased to support this program, particularly as food costs have continued to rise this summer,” says Anker.