MRCI WorkSource EASE Program Wins Minnesota Touchstone Energy Community Award.

MANKATO, Minn. -- The MRCI WorkSource EASE (Employment and Social Enrichment) Program, of Mankato, was named the 2006 winner of Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Community Award. Linda Leiding, Director of Consumer Supports, accepted the award on behalf of the MRCI WorkSource EASE Program, March 27, during the Minnesota Rural Electric Association's annual meeting in St. Paul.

The MRCI WorkSource EASE Program was selected from local award winners throughout the state for the special honor. The EASE Program received $1,000. They will use this money to support their efforts in the community through their involvement in various activities.

"Minnesota is blessed with community-minded people, organizations and corporate citizens," said Joe Miller, Minnesota Touchstone Energy representative. "As Touchstone Energy cooperatives, we are pleased to pay special tribute to those who impact our communities in so many positive ways. The MRCI WorkSource EASE Program clearly demonstrates the strong commitment to community valued by Touchstone Energy cooperatives."

The EASE Program Supervisor is Kathy Sturm and it is a program for retirees with disabilities, where the consumers may choose to work part-time while also enjoying social, educational and recreational activities. EASE Program volunteers have provided support to community members through ECHO Food Shelf, VINE Faith in Action, Salvation Army, area nursing homes, Good Counsel, Summit Center, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society, CADA House, Theresa House Shelter, and CAR (Community Assistance for Refugees) program.

At ECHO Food Shelf, MRCI Ease volunteers prepared donations, stocked shelves, cleaned, and managed the checkout counter. VINE volunteer efforts included baking cookies for VINE's Cookie Bake Fundraiser and making centerpieces for delivery to the homebound. MRCI EASE volunteers have been involved in two sewing projects in the community. They sewed pet cushions out of old quilts for animals at the Blue Earth and Nicollet County Humane Society and they also crafted new, soft toys for children supported by CADA House, Theresa House and the CAR program. They also have assisted on a national level when they assembled backpacks for children in the Mankato sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana. These are just a few of the many needs The MRCI WorkSource EASE Program volunteers have filled.

"The MRCI WorkSource EASE Program volunteers fill a great need in the Mankato community, said Wade Hensel, BENCO Electric General Manager. "We are very proud of their involvement in the community and pleased that they were recognized with such an honor."

Last fall, Touchstone Energy cooperatives throughout the state presented local awards to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to their communities. The EASE Program was a local award recipient and was automatically entered for the statewide recognition.

Touchstone Energy is a nationwide alliance of more than 600 local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives in 45 states dedicated to the values of integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. Forty cooperatives in Minnesota, including BENCO Electric, are part of the national brand, Touchstone Energy.