Dakota Electric holding food drive in front of Hy-Vee store.
Mom and child pose by the Dakota Electric bucket truck by Hy-Vee.
Dakota Electric personnel collecting food in front of Hy-Vee
Members of Dakota Electric Association, and other shoppers, at Hy-Vee in Lakeville were very generous during the food drive held by Dakota Electric at the store on September 17.
Donations of 1,200 pounds of food and $636 in cash came from shoppers. For every pound of food, Dakota Electric is adding $1 to the donations, and the cooperative is also matching dollar-for-dollar all cash donations. So, Dakota Electric is adding to the food shelf contributions another $1,850.
“The Dakota Electric Food and Fund Drive is a HUGE win for The Open Door,” said Melissa Miller of The Open Door. “This has been a particularly tight summer for families across Dakota County and Minnesota as a whole. Having community support like Dakota Electric’s ensures that we’ll be able to stock our shelves with fresh, healthy options to fuel our community as we move into fall!”
For those who donated, they could enter their name in the drawing for an electric bike provided by Dakota Electric in partnership with Valley Bike & Ski. The electric bike is a great example of beneficial electrification, using electricity to make our lives better. Cheryl Huss, Lakeville, was the lucky winner of the electric bike.
“I didn’t even know we could win anything when I donated,” she said. “I was surprised to win.”
Food insecurity has been in the news and Dakota Electric wanted to do something to help those struggling in the local community.
“People really stepped up and were very generous,” said Jon Beyer, Dakota Electric’s energy and member services vice president. “We are thankful for everyone who donated.”
A customer-owned, non-profit utility since 1937, Dakota Electric Association provides electricity to more than 110,000 members throughout Dakota County and portions of Goodhue, Rice and Scott counties. Dakota Electric, a Touchstone Energy cooperative, serves its member-owners with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.
