Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, customerservice@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA—The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative is asking its customer-owners and members of the Northern Virginia community to help local low-income families heat their homes this winter by donating money to NOVEC’s Operation Round Up® fund.
Donna Snellings, NOVEC’s public relations and community liaison, says, “We’ve had three years now of high national unemployment and the 2010 Census tells us one in six Americans is living in poverty. Although four of the counties NOVEC serves are among the 10 richest counties in the nation, the need for heating assistance in our area is growing. We’re asking our customers and community members who have jobs to participate in ORU to help everyone stay warm this winter.”
NOVEC customers and non-customers have contributed almost $600,000 since the program’s inception in 1997. Because NOVEC absorbs all administration costs, 100 percent of all donations go into the fund.
How to Participate in Operation Round Up®
NOVEC customer-owners authorize NOVEC to round up their monthly electric bills to the next dollar. For example, if a bill is $69.54, NOVEC will round it up to $70 and put the extra 46¢ into the ORU fund. Customers who participate donate an average of $6 a year.
NOVEC customers may join ORU online at www.novec.com/oru12 under “Community,” or they may call the customer service center, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 703-335-0500 or toll-free: 1-888-335-0500. Customers who sign up to participate by Dec. 2, 2011, will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 $25 VISA gift cards.
Individuals who wish to support ORU, Co-op customers or not, may also send checks payable to NOVEC Operation Round Up to NOVEC, P.O. Box 2710, Manassas, VA 20108.
How ORU Helps People Stay Warm
After receiving donations, the ORU board, composed of NOVEC customer-owners, sends donations to six organizations:
- The Salvation Army, Loudoun County
- The Salvation Army, Fairfax County
- Action in Community Through Service (ACTS), Prince William County
- SERVE, a program of Northern Virginia Family Service, Prince William County
- SERVE, Inc., Stafford County
- Fauquier Family Shelter Services, Fauquier County
