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Care for Community Intiative
As a rural electric cooperative, it's in our DNA to take care of our neighbors. Our employee-driven Care for Community Initiative brings employee groups together and supports volunteer work in our communities.
Past Care for Community Intiatives
Our Care for Community team got to spend time outside on September 3, 2025, making life a little easier for some of our members. They worked together to complete yardwork and home maintenance projects for members who were unable to do this work themselves. Thank you, Family Service Rochester, for your partnership in helping make this happen!
During the month of June (2025), employees and members of People's Energy Cooperative collected 115 pounds of food in support of Front & Center, Inc., a food shelf and thrift shop in Eyota, MN.
Front & Center, Inc. was born from a Girl Scout project in 2017 after identifying needs in the community. In 2020, it formally became a non-profit organization. They serve five counties, over 300 households, and distribute between 9,000 to 13,000 pounds of food every month.
This note was shared with the Cooperative after the food was dropped off:
Wowser! Will you please pass on how important your collection was? You will feed several families, and provide items that are not always available to them. For this, we thank you! I cannot begin to thank you enough.
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Our Care for Community Initiative Team was established in 2023 as an employee-driven effort focused on helping our members along with non-profit organizations serving members. In early 2024, we were recognized with a $5,000 grant award from our meter vendor, Tantalus, which helping fund Turkey & Toys.
Turkey & Toys was a drive-through turkey giveaway event paired with our annual toy collection for Toys for Tots. Turkeys were distributed on a first-come, first served basis at Bennet's Food Center in Plainview and Fareway Meat & Grocery in Stewartville. There were 360 turkeys distributed between the two sites and 160 items collected for Toys for Tots.
We were happy to add some sparkle to the holiday season!
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Dairyland Power Cooperative Day of Service
On October 2, our Care for Community Initiative joined forces with Dairyland Power Cooperative and MiEnergy Cooperative to spend the day volunteering at Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo just outside of Byron, Minnesota.
Dairyland Power Cooperative launched ‘Day of Service’ last year to recognize National Co-op Month and their commitment to the cooperative principles of Cooperation Among Cooperatives and Concern for Community.
Each year, they’ve coordinated six service projects located throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois to give back to the communities they serve. This year, People’s Energy Cooperative hosted the work site in Minnesota.
Over 35 volunteers from three cooperatives descended on Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo to provide help with several projects. The crews painted animal enclosures; placed mulch into several animal exhibits to prepare for winter; cut, split, and stacked wood; removed several trees near exhibits; and cut, removed, and cleaned up plants and shrubs near exhibits.
“Oxbow Park would not be the gem it is without groups like yours, as well as all the volunteers that we are blessed with throughout the year!” shared Lonnie Hebl, Oxbow Park manager.
“Volunteer hours that are contributed to Olmsted County parks throughout the year equate to seven full-time employees. It is a real game changer for us; we welcome all who want to come and help us make your parks a better place to visit.”
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo serve as important resources for the region. We were proud to make such a positive impact on both our people and animal neighbors!
In early 2024, we were proud to collect over 100 items for local food shelves through our campaign 'Stock the Shelves'.
2023 Employee Campaigns by the Numbers
74 items collected for Paws and Claws Humane Society
$520 donated to Paws and Claws Humane Society
$1,820 pledged in support of United Way of Olmsted County
50+ toys collected for Toys for Tots
Our first employee volunteer event brought us to H.O.P.E. Ranch located west of Chatfield.
H.O.P.E. Ranch is a mental health organization which utilizes horses and the outdoors to help people through their mental health journey.
They have a small group of volunteers that help manage the property.
Although there was much work that could be done, our employees were able to plant twelve small tress, removed an old perimeter fence, spread mulch, and removed low-hanging vines and branches from a walking path.
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