President’s Message – December 2022

Small Change Can Change Lives

The holiday season is here. Some call it the most wonderful season of all. That’s because we associate it with family traditions and gathering with friends and loved ones.

It’s a time of giving and spreading joy.

Giving back reminds me of the many good things we have right here in our communities and why it’s important to spread the good as far as we can—especially to the most vulnerable in our area.

I’m also reminded of how wonderful our community is and what a big impact we can have when we work together.

As a Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative member, you help us spread the good throughout the year. Through our Project Helping Hand program, your donations help local families and individuals in need by providing financial assistance with their energy bills.

When you opt to add $1, $3 or $5 to your monthly electric bill and donate to this fund, you make a big difference in someone’s life. You are helping to meet an immediate, critical need. Just as importantly, you are telling someone the community cares.

Through the years, our community-focused programs, food donations and other giving projects have supported local schools and young people, fed hungry families, enabled families in need to keep the lights on and so much more.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative also participates in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, where we take our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong immersion to experience democracy in action. Ultimately, the larger community benefits from these programs because of you and your neighbors.

You likely have heard me say the cooperative principle of “Concern for Community” is part of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s DNA. It defines who we are as an organization.

When we first brought electricity to this area in 1941, the quality of life improved. But other things needed to be addressed. Through the years, this co-op has been at the forefront of improving the quality of life for others. It’s why we created Project Helping Hand.

With your help, we have given thousands of dollars to local families and individuals through this program. Small donations, over time, can collectively make a big impact.

As a local cooperative, we have a stake in our communities. It’s why we support local organizations. We hope you will think of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative as more than your energy provider but also as a catalyst for good in our community.

I hope all our members have a joyous holiday season. May it be merry and bright!

To learn more about Project Helping Hand, visit our website.