The Lamp - April 2003
Story by Kay Rabbit-Brower

Operation Round Up® is beneficial to more than just the people or organizations needing financial assistance. Members of the IEC Foundation who review the applications and disburse the funds, are touched by the people they meet through the program and feel they benefit from being able to help a neighbor.

“Operation Round Up® is a wonderful program,” says Janice Burgess, Terlton, who has been on the board since the program’s beginning. “I have a lot of people tell me we've helped them when they had no other avenue available to them. I like being a part of that; I haven’t grown tired of it.

“Being on the board has made me more informed about the needs of our communities,” she adds. “There are so many people in the same boat, needing help. People will stop me and say ‘I appreciate you so much’ and I'm so thrilled I can help them.”
Jackie Larkin, another original Foundation member, from Oilton agrees it’s a wonderful program.

“We've been able to do a lot of good,” she says. “I especially like it when we're able to help children or families with children. It's sometimes hard on your heart to hear about these situations, but I enjoy being able to help.”

Marlene Braught of rural Sand Springs says she’s impressed with how the program has been able to help so many people.

“For the amount of money we have to work with, it’s amazing how many people we can help,” she says, adding it’s harder than she thought it would be to sit on the Foundation board and learn of the needs in the area.

“I’m glad we can help senior citizens who don't have any family nearby and who fall ‘between the cracks.’ We’ve been able to help them buy glasses and false teeth; things we don’t really think about needing, but that are very important to someone who doesn't have them.”

“I agree with Marlene that I’m amazed at the number of lives this program has been able to impact,” says Anna Harris of Sand Springs. “We have helped fire departments, youth organizations like FFA, and so many, many children who were in need. Operation Round Up® is quite a bargain for less than $12 a year.”

Virgil Cravens of Fairfax says being able to do good for people who find themselves in bad situations is rewarding to him. “I’m proud we’ve been able to help people get life’s basics, like groceries, pay rent or house payments. I’ve learned the needs are there and I enjoy being able to help.”

Not being the stereotyped big assistance agency is impressive to J.W. Casper of Pawnee. “We review the applications, make the decisions and use the money as we feel best helps someone,” he says. “We aren't restricted like some big agencies are.”

“This is a satisfying, fulfilling way to serve people,” says IEC Foundation president Gene Perry of Westport. “This organization meets the needs of both individuals, families and organizations when many of them don’t have anyone else to turn to. I am proud to be a part of it.”

“It's very rewarding to know we have such a caring program available,” Jack Ditto of Cleveland says. “It’s personally rewarding for me because I can see the genuine gratitude of the people we've been able to help.”

Jan Moore, of Mannford and the Foundation’s newest member, is impressed with the number of people helped by Operation Round Up®. “At my first meeting, I was blown away by the number of applications we receive and the number of people we help. I realize it’s impossible to help everyone, but we do try to help as many as we can and I feel good about that. Because any one of us could find ourselves in these situations.”