In June, the Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Home was awarded the Big Country Electric Cooperative (BCEC) Operation Round Up grant in the amount of $5,000.
This is the second time that the organization has received a grant from BCEC. Last year, the grant money was used to create an internship program for the residents of the maternity home, through which they can learn valuable work skills alongside employed members of the community, while being able to earn an income.
This year’s grant will continue to support that program.
“This program has been such a blessing, not only to the women we serve, but to the community of Jayton as a whole,” said Sparrow’s Nest director Sky Gregory. “We have built relationships with several businesses in town who graciously give their time to teach the women we serve new work skills. In return they have found eager and hard working employees.”
To date, five women have been able to participate in the internship program and serve the community of Jayton. One resident stated that she enjoys the program because it has helped her not only with job skills, but to feel like she is a part of the community. Because of her work in the internship program, she has been able to meet many of her goals that will help her move forward from the program.
“The Sparrow’s Nest staff is very appreciative of not only the opportunities that this grant provides, but also the generosity of BCEC in their continual support to our organization, as well as others like it,” said Gregory. “We were excited to see that the Sweetwater Women’s Resource and Crisis Pregnancy Center was also among the grant recipients, as support of organizations like these is so important tothewomenweserve.”
According to BCEC, Operation Round Up was established in1993tohelpcommunitiesand individuals needing a hand up, not a hand out. The program’s tagline, “neighbors helping neighbors,” is at the heart of why South Plains Electric Cooperative exists, according to the organization’s statement.
Operation Round Up receives contributions from participating cooperative members whose monthly utility bills are rounded up to the next dollar. The average contribution is $6 per year, but it makes a big impact in the lives of our members and in our local communities. Operation Round Up has dispersed over $1 million since its inception and monies go to local high school students for scholarships, local teachers for mini-grants, house fire victims, volunteer fire departments, various non-profits and individuals.
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