December 2021: News from your cooperative

Don’t get me wrong. I get as excited as the next person about opening a present on Christmas morning, but I think most of us realize — at least when we get a little older — that it is almost always better to give than receive, especially during this time of year.

The fact is, your co-op gives back to our community every day of the year. Through our work to provide reliable electricity, support local schools, promote economic development and various other community efforts, Powell Valley Electric Cooperative is consistently engaged in the kinds of things that make the communities we serve great places to live, work and raise a family. Many of these efforts can take years to bear fruit, and that’s OK. We’re in it for the long haul.

There is something we do, however, that offers a more immediate payback. Every year, Powell Valley Electric Cooperative sets aside a special day — our “Day of Service” — where we come together to give back to the community we serve.

For this year’s Day of Service event, PVEC delivered lunch to the employees of our local health departments. These workers are among the many who have shown their commitment for the well-being of our community by providing exceptional care throughout this global pandemic. Thank you for your dedication.

It’s hard to describe the feeling we share when working side-by-side on these projects with other PVEC employees. The sense of camaraderie goes way beyond wearing matching T-shirts. Our Day of Service has become a tradition, and it’s one I personally look forward to each year.

I’d like to take this opportunity to challenge you to start 2022 with a resolution to make our community a better place to live. Volunteer your time to help someone less fortunate or help a local organization tackle a project it might not have the funds or the hands to otherwise complete. Donations are great, but there’s just something soul-satisfying about giving time. Whether through your church, a school or a community nonprofit, I promise there’s a project out there just waiting for you to undertake. I can promise you this: The rewards of doing so are meaningful and long-lasting.

The employees of Powell Valley Electric Cooperative join me in wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday season and many blessings in the coming new year.

-Brad Coppock