Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety Board of Directors on Jan. 8 awarded $21,068 to support five community life safety projects.

Among the recipients, the Libby Scattergun Club was awarded $2,068 to purchase trauma kits and an automated external defibrillator. The club operates at the Libby Rod and Gun Club facility, located outside of Libby. The volunteer-based group maintains archery, trap, skeet, rifle and pistol ranges on the 45-acre campus. Funding will help ensure club members and visitors have access to critical emergency response equipment in the event of a medical emergency.

Rich Hjort presented on behalf of the club and informed the Roundup for Safety Board that the requested equipment will be further supported by an on-site caretaker currently in the process of receiving formal first aid training. In addition to the Libby Scattergun Club award, Roundup for Safety grants were approved for the following organizations:

• Glacier Institute – $4,000 for youth search and rescue leadership program.
• Trinity Lutheran School – $3,000 for safety cameras.
• Blankenship Firefighters Association – $10,000 for radios.
• Love’s Journey – $2,000 for automated external defibrillator, smoke alarms

Roundup for Safety funding comes from co-op members who choose to have their electric bills rounded up to the next dollar, with the extra change supporting local life safety projects. The program costs each member an average of about $6 per year and has provided more than $5.5 million in community funding since 1997.