CO-OP NEWS
No barriers for wounded vets One part adventure, one part curriculum, and one part physical challenge — that’s how the No Barriers Warriors program is described. The program, operated in Fort Collins, Colorado, offers disabled veterans the chance to experience a wilderness expedition that challenges them physically and mentally while helping them overcome the obstacles they face in their daily lives. South Central Power is proud to offer this opportunity to disabled veterans in our service territory. The cooperative, through the support of CoBank, one of our lenders, will sponsor one veteran for the program in 2018. Applications are being accepted now for expeditions in July and August.
Craig Nicholson’s No Barriers experience included falconry.
Craig Nicholson of Carroll was a participant in the 2017 program. He and his wife, Annette, attended the No Barriers Summit, a four-day event featuring inspirational speakers and offering adaptive activities that challenged Nicholson. Using a specially designed wheelchair, Nicholson participated in a 5-mile hike over rocks, snow, and mud. His favorite part of the trip was getting to work with a falcon. “This trip showed me that there really are no barriers. Nothing is in our way — it’s just what’s inside of us that is the barrier,” said Nicholson.
Nominations for the 2018 program are being accepted now. If you are, or know of, a disabled veteran who would benefit from this all-expenses-paid program, visit the Community section of South Central Power’s webpage to complete a nomination form. The deadline to apply is March 1. Contact Community Development Ambassador Liz Bainter for more information.
OPERATION ROUND UP
Connecting with communities
2017 Operation Round Up Awards Education
Each month, South Central Power members generously agree to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. These few pennies from participating members added up to contributions of more than $575,000 in 2017. Those funds were returned as grants to charitable, educational, and civic groups, and to high school seniors in the form of scholarships.
Food & Hunger
Operation Round Up® continues in 2018. The deadline to apply for the next round of grants is March 31. Visit the Community section of the cooperative’s website for details and an application.
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FEBRUARY 2018 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING
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