Rural Missouri - May 2020 - 25

donate the items collected locally.
of Laclede's ofﬁces in Camdenton, Hartville or Waynesville
New in 2019 was a holiday food drive to ensure no one
for pickup. Typically, school nurses or counselors stock
in the community went hungry. At the Camdenton ofﬁce
the items and students can request what they might need.
a "Coats for Kids" drive is held, with donations going to
And that need is high in the Missouri Ozarks. "I think
Dogwood Elementary School.
the need is greater than what you realize until
Off the clock, the cooperative's employees can be
you get involved in something like this," Lisa
found volunteering for all kinds of community activisays. "I remember when I was in school and
ties. These efforts were recognized by Touchstone
you could tell there were kids that didn't have
Energy, which presented its Power and Hope
much. They got made fun of and unfortunately
there wasn't anything like this to help them."
Award to one of the cooperative's employees.
"Everyone enjoys helping," says Lisa. "They
The program is making a difference, she says.
Lebanon
might pick one thing they contribute to or they
Students send thank-you notes, and school nurses
might help with all things. It's rewarding when
have written the co-op to relate the impact the
you get to hear the stories about where it has
program is making. "They can concentrate more on
helped people. It's always a good thing."
learning because they feel better about themselves," Lisa
Adds the manager: "I am proud of our employees. They
says. "It is kind of a self-esteem builder too."
have for many years pitched in and helped out in so many
"There's a big need because of the number of commuways with the community. The seventh Cooperative Prinnities in our six-county area, no doubt about that," Marc
ciple is Concern for Community and I think that has been
adds. "But there are a number of wonderful organizations
ingrained in our employees' DNA. They really do pitch in."
that are helping."
One of these is Lebanon's Community Cares program,
which funds worthy organizations that help the community similar to the United Way. Laclede Electric's employees
typically contribute $3,000 to $4,000 annually to the fund.
"We really like that fundraiser because Community Cares
makes those decisions about who gets funded," Marc says.
"It can be a literacy organization, a food bank or a camp
like Camp Wonderland for disabled children. We know
those funds are going to the right places."
Laclede Electric's employees give back to their communities in other ways. For example, employees pick up
trash along a stretch of Route 66 near the Lebanon ofﬁce.
At Christmastime a mitten tree - made from copper by a
retired employee - goes up in the lobby. Employees bring
gloves, hats and scarves to hang on the tree and then
Left: The results of a Laclede Electric food drive are boxed and ready
for delivery to a local food pantry. Below: Proceeds from an employee
chili contest were donated to Project 360. The money will help fund
The Sound House where homeless teens can ﬁnd support. Right:
Among the many ways the cooperative gives back to the community
is by picking up trash along a stretch of Route 66 through MoDOT's
Adopt-A-Highway program.
photos courtesy Laclede Electric Cooperative

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Rural Missouri - May 2020

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