Fredericksburg, Va. — Through The Power of Change, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) member-owners give voluntarily to support nonprofits that support those in need.

Most participants round up their electric bill to the next whole dollar, but gifts can also be a set monthly amount or a one-time donation. Twice a year, donations from The Power of Change are made available to 501(c) 3 nonprofit charities in our communities.

This spring, the CARE Charity, Inc. Board that distributes the funding awarded more than $138,000 to support 29 nonprofits in our communities.

The Power of Change Spring 2023 Award Recipients include:

Darby’s Dancers of Fredericksburg received $1,185 to support the end-of-year recital program for children with special needs.

Hanover Master Gardener Association received $2,000 to provide a rainwater harvesting system for the Horticultural Learning Center demonstration garden.

Adult Community Education of Louisa County received $2,500 to help update and increase literacy materials and resources used by students and tutors enrolled in the Adult Community Education program.

Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of Spotsylvania County received $3,000 to assist with the expansion of the Honeybee Project apiary and pollinator garden.

Fredericksburg Pregnancy Center received $5,000 to support the Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing Initiative for at-risk, low-income communities in the region by providing needed materials, equipment, and supplies.

Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity received $5,000 to provide doors and windows for a current home build through the Family Promise NSV Stabilization & Housing Program Homeownership Program.

Hanover Tavern Foundation received $5,000 to support the educational Hanover Tavern History in the Heart of Virginia program for Title 1 school field trips from Caroline County, Louisa County and Spotsylvania County.

Rappahannock United Way of Spotsylvania County received $5,000 to provide materials for Prosper Students, a financial education program for junior and senior high school students to prepare them for financial literacy and job readiness skills.

The McShin Foundation received $5,000 to provide supplies to the Recovery Wellness Program that offers addiction recovery support services.

The Montpelier Center for Arts & Education of Hanover County received $5,000 to support the Jump Start the Art educational and skills building project workshops.

Tabernacle United Methodist Church of Spotsylvania County received $5,000 to support the growing need of the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Spotsylvania Affiliate program that provides books to registered children.

Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter of Fredericksburg received $5,000 to support the replacement of shelter lockers as part of the Essential Shelter Services program.

Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center of Fredericksburg received $6,640.51 to assist with the Forensics Expansion Project that addresses child abuse investigations and support services.

Foundation for Lake Anna Emergency Services of Louisa County received $7,500 to provide a Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS) compression device for the New Bridge Fire and Rescue Station Ambulance.

Walkerton Community Fire Association of King and Queen County received $10,000 to assist with safety equipment and funding to purchase a rescue boat to assist stranded boaters on the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers.

Applications for the Fall 2023 The Power of Change funding are now open and the deadline to apply is Aug. 10. Visit thepowerofchange.org for more information. 

Looking for a way to give back to your community? There are three easy ways to give through The Power of Change: you can give a one-time donation, enroll to give a set monthly amount, or have your monthly electric bill rounded up to the next whole dollar.

REC provides electric service to over 174,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 18,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.