Farmer’s fund helps with kids’ medical costs
, News reporter
10-12-2009
Farmer’s Electric Area Youth Benefit Fund assists families with medical costs not covered by health insurance and other means for children who have been ill or injured.
Established in 1993, the fund provides financial assistance toward the payment of medical bills for children under age 18.
“Maybe there’s a low-income individual with partial insurance, but it doesn’t cover it all and there’s no way they can cover it, then we’ll try to step in and assist,” said AYBF Coordinator Steve Shoot.
An application process is required to determine where assistance is needed. The fund is offered to residents of Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Linn, Livingston and Ray counties. Families do not need to be a member of the Farmer’s Electric Cooperative to receive assistance from this organization.
Funds are raised through banquets, and an annual celebrity/memorabilia auction and golf tournament.
“We raise money three ways - through a back-to-back dinner auction and a golf tournament in Chillicothe in August – and through Operation Roundup that we started 15 months ago,” Shoot said.
Ten percent of FEC members are participating by having part of their payments donated to the fund, which raised $6,000 this year, said Shoot.
“The banquet and golf tournament raised over $40,000 for the first time this year, and is well-recognized throughout the nine-county service area,” Shoot said. “The co-op donates the labor and there are no administrative fees so the only expenses are the stationery and postage for the event.” Most of the proceeds, therefore, are donated to the fund.
All applications will be sent to a separate board of directors that administer the fund. As of Aug. 2009, the fund had distributed $423,926.03 to 358 families throughout the nine-county area.
Shoot said the board makes each determination case-by-case as “every situation is unique.”
Contact Jennie Tipton, Administrative Assistant, at 800-279-0496, or email her at farmers@fec-co.com. The fund is located at 201 W. Business 36, Chillicothe, Mo.
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