A day to serve others

The middle of this month marks a milestone for something truly special. On Thursday, Oct. 15, it will be the 10th anniversary of the Tennessee Electric Co-op Day of Service. The annual volunteer event is a day set aside to simply serve others. For 10 years, co-ops across the state have been going out into their communities on this day to lend a helping hand because that’s what the cooperative spirit is all about.

From hosting bingo at senior centers to planting trees for an arboretum development to even assembling and delivering snack bags to first responders, Day of Service projects reflect and put into action the seventh cooperative principle of “Concern for Community.” This year, we at Powell Valley Electric Cooperative will also be participating in a service project to give back to the communities we serve.

This annual event has made a significant impact. Over the past 10 years, the program has completed more than 250 projects with the help of over 5,000 volunteers. Collectively those co-op employees and board members have contributed more than 12,000 hours of service. Here at Powell Valley Electric Cooperative, we are proud to be a part of those numbers. The efforts have not only improved our local community but also strengthened the bond between our co-op and the people we serve.

It is fitting that the Tennessee Electric Co-op Day of Service falls within National Co-op Month. All October, we celebrate being member owned and all the benefits that stem from that. Powell Valley Electric Cooperative is more than just your electric company. It’s a team of people who believe that caring for our communities is just as important as powering them. We know and understand our greatest impact isn’t measured only in kilowatt-hours but in the lives we reach every day.

-Brad Coppock