October is National Co-op Month. Co-op Month provides an opportunity for cooperatives to celebrate the benefits of cooperatives with their members and the community. The seventh principle, Concern for Community, is essential to who we are as cooperatives. We serve our community not only by being an essential service, but by helping to power our local economy.

Cooperatives tend to bring good people together to make good things happen in the community. This was true in the case of an event held on October 1 in which Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative and Fayette Electric Cooperative worked together to host their Fourth Annual Cooperative Shred Day. Members from both cooperatives took advantage of the free shredding services at both locations. Those who brought more than three boxes donated funds which were donated to the AMEN Food Pantry and Hospice Brazos Valley. $500 was raised for each charity.

“Fayette Electric Cooperative strives to empower our local charities and communities. We are happy to be able to present this donation to the AMEN Food Pantry in an effort to help those in our local community. We appreciate everyone who took part in our Fourth Annual Cooperative Shred Day to make this possible,” said Fayette Electric
General Manager Gary Don Nietsche.

"We are happy to support the mission of Hospice Brazos Valley with our donation. Their team of medical professionals have served countless individuals and families in our community. And a huge thank you to our customers who also donated to their great cause,” said Colorado Valley Telephone Coop General Manager Kelly Allison.