Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op members continue to generously assist area community organizations and individuals through the voluntary round up of their electric and natural gas billings. Member contributions to the Communities First Fund provide funds for grants and scholarships in their local communities within the PIE&G service area.
At a recent meeting, the PIE&G Communities First Fund Board of Directors finalized awards of $5,400 in grants to the following recipients:
Montmorency County:
Montmorency County Commission on Aging ($3,000) for kitchen upgrades at the Senior Centers in Atlanta ($1,000 to purchase an ice machine), Lewiston ($1,000 to purchase an oven and range), and Hillman ($1,000 for a food warmer).
Presque Isle County:
Presque Isle County Sheriff Department ($2,400) to purchase a vest, gas mask, and medical kit required for membership in the Northern Michigan Mutual Aid Emergency Response Team (ERT).
At their June meeting, the PIE&G Communities First Fund Board of Directors awarded $12,000 in grants as follows:
Alpena County:
Long Rapids Township Volunteer Fire Department ($2,000) to purchase a thermal imaging camera designed to assist fire fighters in search and rescue efforts and to locate from a safe distance internal fires sources in structures.
Montmorency County:
Atlanta Church of Christ – The Caring Place ($2,500) to purchase food for The Caring Place food pantry. The pantry provides food and clothing assistance to approximately 232 households in the county each month.
New Beginnings Ministries ($2,500) to purchase food for the Hillman Area Resource Pantry (HARP).The pantry currently provides food to over 400 people per month.
Otsego County:
Otsego Memorial Hospital Foundation ($1,000) to purchase new age appropriate books for the Reach Out and Read program.
Presque Isle County:
Peace Lutheran Church ($1,000) to enable The Peace Project to purchase and distribute personal hygiene items to families.
Posen Consolidated Schools ($1,500) to defray the cost of student transportation and admission to the Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI to further learning of American History.
United Way of Northeast Michigan ($1,500) for the purchase of food and personal hygiene products to be distributed at the Presque Isle County Project Connect Event, where two to three hundred people receive donated goods and services.
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op provides electric and natural gas service to more than 42,000 member-owners, and serves a nine county area across northeast Michigan. PIE&G headquarters is located in Onaway.