Alfalfa Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees approved CoBank’s Sharing Success program for the 13th year. CoBank recognizes that its cooperative members often know best where funding is most needed to benefit the communities they serve and matches AEC’s contributions.
Since the establishment of Sharing Success in 2012, CoBank and its members have contributed more than $86 million to groups such as volunteer fire departments, local schools, and hunger relief programs. Other groups include government organizations such as counties or municipalities and their agencies or departments, as long as the donation serves a public purpose and is consistent with the purpose and guidelines of the Sharing Success program.
In 2024, CoBank has matched $5 million in grant funds. Each eligible member may request a match for up to four contributions with a total of $10,000. AEC selected:
Faith Center Church, Cherokee — received $3,000 to purchase food and refrigerated storage for its food bank, which serves those in need in the surrounding area.
Pioneer Spirit Foundation Freedom Food Pantry — received $1,500 to purchase food and a refrigerator or freezer to store perishable items.
Timberlake Public School — received $2,500 to install two water wells to help maintain the football field, softball field, and grounds at Timberlake Elementary in Jet. Receiving the grant will help lower summer utilities and free up the money to use in other areas.
Wakita Volunteer Fire Department — received $3,000 to purchase a new automated external defibrillator (AED) and an automatic chest compression machine for the department to use during extended wait times for an ambulance to arrive on the scene.