Clay Electric kicking off Operation Round Up in October

It could mean a little less money for your wallet, but Clay Electric says your spare change will be put to good use.

Starting this October, the company will round up members’ bill to the nearest dollar and donate the difference in change to local charities as part of “Operation Round Up.”

Members will be automatically enrolled in the program, but the company says those who do not wish to participate can opt out.

"I think if they're patient and wait and see what their funds are doing and how it's impacting our local area, I think they'll be very supportive of the program,” says Derick Thomas, Director of Clay Electric Cooperative’s Member and Public Relations Department.

Thomas says the program has been met with great support, therefore, it’s easier to automatically enroll members. He adds that members have access to a 24/7 website and number to opt out.

“We did want to make it simple and easy for the members that choose not to participate, but we wanted to make it easy for the great majority of our members that do want to support the program,” Thomas says.

Thomas says the money will be used at the discretion of the Clay Electric Foundation, which is made up of nine volunteer members that are geographically dispersed throughout the service area.

However, the focus of funding is in three general areas: basic human needs, education/youth programs, and disaster relief.

“This is a way for our members to really get involved in a much more direct way and make a much bigger difference in improving the quality of life,” Thomas says.

The company will start awarding grants in January of 2017. Thomas says they hope to be awarding grants to organizations within their 14 county service area as frequently as once a month.

“The intent is for this to be around forever, hopefully,” Thomas says.