Members of the Southwest Health Transport, Inc. board were presented with $10,000 in grant funds on Nov. 17. Pioneer Electric’s H.U.G.S. (Helping Us Give to Society) team granted $5,000 in funds to Southwest Health Transport, Inc. and presented another $5,000 in matching funds courtesy of CoBank’s Sharing Success program.  The money will help fund the board’s bus transportation project aimed at assisting those with medical transportation needs

“Having a transportation system in place to aid our elderly community will be a huge benefit to the community,” said Steve Brom, chairperson for Southwest Transport, Inc. “The bus will be able to transport those with medical needs to their appointments taking the burden of themselves and their families.”

Southwest Transport estimates over 900 people could benefit from the addition of a medical needs bus transportation system in Ulysses. The bus will be open to those in Ulysses with medical needs in Garden City three days a week and non-elderly persons, persons with disabilities and caregivers will also be able to ride the bus if space is available.

“Our main goal is to help our community get the medical care they need,” said Ruby Romero, Southwest Health Transport, Inc. board member.

The Sullivan Art program received $5,000 in grants from Pioneer Electric’s Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) program and an additional $2,500 from CoBank’s Sharing Success program. The Art program will use the funds to purchase new classroom furniture and replenish art supplies. Representatives from Pioneer Electric presented the grants to the school on Nov. 17.

“The tables and chairs in the art room currently do not match,” said Stephanie Manis, Sullivan Elementary Art teacher. “Having new tables and chairs that match will not only bring cohesiveness to the room but will also provide a better working area for my students.”

The new tables and chairs will coordinate with Manis’ color-coding method for sectioning groups in her classroom. Manis hopes by improving the working environment for students and introducing them to a variety of art mediums will help her students continue to express themselves in positive ways through art.

“The Sullivan Art program is a great example of the type of projects H.U.G.S. was created to help with,” said Ruby Terrazas, energy services coordinator and H.U.G.S. team member. “By creating a welcoming and fresh environment in the classroom, students are going to be engaged and get the most out of their education.”

As a non-profit electric cooperative, Pioneer allocates its annual operating margins to members receiving service during the year. These margins (revenue in excess of expenses) are based on your patronage and are called capital credits. They are used by your cooperative for operating funds and paid back to its members as the financial condition of the cooperative permits and bylaw provisions are met.

Pioneer Electric is proud to announce the retirement of $4 million in capital credits to members including $1.8 million in Pioneer Electric patronage (usage) from 1999 and 2020 and $2.2 million in generation and transmission capital credits for service used in 2011 and 2020. Capital credits will be distributed in the form of a check to members; any balances under $5 will not receive a check. Additionally, any accounts with an overdue balance (60 days) will have their capital credits applied directly to their account.

Capital credit checks will be available for pickup during Pioneer Electric’s Member Appreciation event (Dec. 2, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.) at the Grant County Civic Center. In addition to receiving their capital credit check, members are welcome to tour the North Pole, and visit with Santa. Free chili and cinnamon rolls will also be served throughout the event.

Capital credit checks will not be available at Pioneer Electric’s office; any checks not picked up during Member Appreciation will be mailed. Additional information about the capital credits retirement process is available here.