A late Thanksgiving meant a short Christmas season this year, but electric cooperatives still found time to light up their towns or help needy families.

Across the country, co-op employees and members donated toys and canned food to local charities. Lineworkers also gave their time to beautify their towns by stringing lights and decorations and setting up Christmas trees.

Co-op creativity was also on full display, as evidenced by the many submissions of sparkling and glowing bucket trucks in local holiday parades. In Sundance, Wyoming, Powder River Energy Corp. discovered that 10-foot long cardboard tubes, butcher paper and cardboard make a festive gingerbread house—the theme of its float in the 2019 Sundance Parade of Lights.

“Yes, we did some dumpster diving, but it turned out nice,” marketing communications specialist Tim Velder said of the prize-winning creation.

The co-op’s Operation Round Up program also helped fund its foundation’s donations to local food pantries and toy drives.

Season’s greetings and best wishes for 2020!