At their core, cooperatives are about community. They’re about caring for each other and working in tandem toward a common goal. Across the state, electric cooperative employees have embodied those values as they pool resources for the Line Patrol Fund – a charity that benefits electric cooperative workers and families.

The fund provides financial assistance throughout South Dakota to electric co-op employees and their families for serious injuries and illnesses, natural disaster relief, or other financial hardships. In 2025, 18 families received assistance from the South Dakota non-profit organization, totally a little over $94,000. Over 300 families have been helped since the charity was established in 2003 and distributed nearly $900,000.

“While it’s heartbreaking to see the requests that come in, it’s incredibly rewarding to know that our co-ops have a charitable organization ready to help,” said Jessie Tucker, West Central Electric Cooperative Manager of Members Services. Jessie served on the Line Patrol Charity committee for several years. 

A variety of fundraisers have been held by cooperative employees across the state including golf tournaments, auctions, 5K runs, raffles, bowling tournaments, and bake sales, leading up to the main event in September: the Line Patrol Charity Ride. Former Northern Electric General Manager Jim Moore was one of the original organizers of the Charity Ride and still tries to attend every year. The Charity Ride rotates between electric cooperatives throughout the state, and the area electric cooperatives decide the route and entertainment. This year, the Charity Ride was in Yankton on Sept. 6. The ride started early in the morning, followed by dinner and a big auction.

“The Charity Ride is an incredible event. It’s a great opportunity to see co-op employees in action and to witness how willing they are to come together to raise funds for such a meaningful cause,” Jessie said. “It’s always a blast — attend once, and you’ll want to come back every year!”

This year, the Charity Ride raised around $52,000. There were employees from 25 cooperatives from across South Dakota at the 2025 Charity Ride, along with vendors who helped sponsor the event. Other fundraisers and donations throughout 2025 brought in an additional $103,000.

Northern Electric Cooperative employees have hosted an internal fundraiser almost every year since 2009. Employees, former employees, board members, and community members have raised over $60,000 for the Line Patrol Fund over those 14 years. This year, Northern employees held a variety of fundraisers, such as lunches, cookie swaps, and auctions. Northern employees and board members donated items to bid on live or in silent auctions, as well as the opportunity to see a coworker take a whip cream pie to the face. On average, each attendee donated a little over $175 to support each other during times of crisis.

“Line Patrol truly reflects the cooperative spirit — like a family, always willing to support one another. You won’t find a more meaningful organization,” said Jessie.

We would like to thank everyone for supporting Northern Electric’s charity auction and the Line Patrol Fund. These funds have directly benefited many families, locally and across the state.