Big Bend Electric Cooperative (BBEC) > Community > Caring Neighbors

Caring Neighbors

In the Cooperative spirit and following cooperative principles, Big Bend Electric Cooperative, Inc. (the Cooperative) has established a non-profit organization called Caring Neighbors. Caring Neighbors was formed to help the communities we live in by providing charitable contributions to other non-profit organizations.

Whether it’s a life-saving tool needed by your local emergency response provider or help for a non-profit medical agency, Caring Neighbors assists communities with getting supplies and services they otherwise could not get on their own.

Who makes these decisions? A five-member board meets quarterly to decide how funds should be disbursed. Board members are individuals that are active members of communities throughout the Cooperative’s service area. They represent you and your communities by deciding how best to provide help.

The most important part of this program is YOU! You, through your membership in the Cooperative, are automatically signed up in the Caring Neighbors program. Caring Neighbors participants have their electric bills rounded up to the nearest dollar. The Cooperative forwards the rounded amount to Caring Neighbors. For an individual account, this averages $6 per year.

The Cooperative keeps track of exactly how much is forwarded to Caring Neighbors and reports it to members on their bill statement. Since Caring Neighbors is a non-profit charitable organization with a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS, members are allowed to deduct their Caring Neighbors contribution on their federal tax return. The Cooperative’s staff volunteers time to handle administrative requirements so that all funds received can go directly to Caring Neighbors and so that Caring Neighbors will be able to use almost all funds to provide help in our communities.

You do not have to be a Caring Neighbors participant; however, this is an easy and inexpensive way to see that needy people in our communities can receive help. If you do not want to be a Caring Neighbors participant, please contact the Cooperative to be removed from the program. Irrigation accounts are not automatically enrolled in the Caring Neighbors program.

If you have any questions about Caring Neighbors or have a specific need that you believe the Caring Neighbors board should consider, contact Big Bend Electric Cooperative, Inc. at 509-659-1700 or toll free at 866-844-2363 during office hours. You may also contact any one of the five members of the Caring Neighbors Board. They are: Kristy Rattray, Othello; Stephanie Coon, Washtucna; Kay Corbin, Pasco; Dale Anderson, Ritzville; and, Beth Schafer, Connell.

Caring Neighbors Application (PDF)

Caring Neighbors Donation Summary Previous Year

 

Year Community & School Activities for Children Programs That  Assist Needy Individuals Community Improvement/ Emergency
Activities Service
Organizations
  #        Amount   #        Amount   #        Amount   #        Amount
2002   10        $10,100   6         $13,800   2           $  720   6          $7,500
2003   15        $11,850   4         $5,500   6           $6,350   2          $2,000
2004    6         $3,750   8         $11,240  12          $8,050   4          $3,100
2005   12        $7,915   7         $11,000   9           $6,750   1          $1,100
2006   13        $13,175   6         $8,000   9           $8,325   1          $1,000
2007   12        $12,425   7         $11,050   4           $4,550   2          $1,625
2008   13        $9,250   6         $7,500   8           $7,109   5          $7,600
2009   15        $13,080   6         $8,500   7           $3,900   4          $5,100
2010   17        $15,173   3         $6,000  10          $7,850   4          $4,998
2011   11        $9,391   6         $10,500   9           $9,200   4          $4,850
2012   20        $18,000   2         $2,500  12         $11,122   3          $1,925
2013   19        $19,025   4         $5,650   8           $5,550   3          $3,000
2014   24        $18,540   6         $8,850   4           $4,150   4          $3,550
2015   18        $14,775   5         $8,450   8           $8,150   4          $4,204
2016   22        $16,295  11        $7,950   8           $9,100   3          $2,950
2017   21        $18,200  16        $15,550   2           $1,800   2          $1,385
2018   20        $15,715  11        $10,575  11         $10,700   1          $900
2019   17        $15,905   7         $4,400  12         $11,700   5          $5,500
2020   14        $15,295   4         $7,800   6          $6,950   6          $9,065

# – Refers to the number of organizations that received donations

Donations are only made to municipal entities or 501(C)(3) organizations