Cherryland Electric Cooperative members are giving back to the needy of Northern Michigan through Cherryland Cares.

The Cherryland Cares board is a volunteer group of five people that meets quarterly. They represent Cherryland Electric's service territory which includes Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Manistee and Wexford counties. Given our all-volunteer board only a very nominal amount of money goes to overhead expenses.

How does it work?

Cherryland Cares is a program where you select to have Cherryland Electric round your electric bill to the nearest dollar. The difference is then transferred to the Cherryland Cares fund. For instance if your electric bill was $58.48 for the month we would round your bill up to $59.00 and 52¢ would be placed into the Cherryland Cares fund.

Individuals and organizations seeking assistance would then submit an application to the Cherryland Cares board for review. In certain hardship cases requests can be expedited but most cases are reviewed monthly by the Cherryland Cares board who oversees the fund.

Over the past five years, our Cherryland Cares Board has awarded more than $250,000 to deserving individuals and organizations.

Your pennies do make a difference. To enlist in Cherryland Cares, please call Cherryland Electric at 486-9200 and speak to a member service representative.

We thank you on behalf of all the people Cherryland Cares has helped in the past and will help in the future.