The LIGHT Foundation extends the co-op’s community outreach
Sometimes, you don’t know what you need until that need hits hard.
Coytney Bell needed a new specialized stroller. Because of a disability, the 13-year-old Chesterfield County resident has to be fed in a stroller in order to maintain a proper eating position. But she had outgrown her old stroller. At the same time, she needed a new wheelchair, too. The family’s insurance would only pay for one, and they chose to replace her wheelchair.
A new stroller for Coytney was donated from The LIGHT Foundation through Lynches River Electric Cooperative.
“When I received the stroller for Coytney, it was big, it was wide, folded easily, and it’s more convenient,” says Coytney’s mother, Tiffany Booker. “I am grateful that my family was chosen. You never know what you need until you need it.”
Founded in 2017, The LIGHT Foundation was born from a need the co-op desperately wanted to meet but, at that time, wasn’t able to. A local resident battling cancer needed financial help, and their story tugged at the heartstrings of the Lynches River Electric family. But because they weren’t a member of the cooperative, the co-op’s charitable program Operation Round Up wasn’t able to assist. That’s when the idea for The LIGHT Foundation took root.
“We knew this person needed help, and it hurt that we couldn’t step in,” says Lynches River Electric CEO Brian Broughton.
The foundation was created to bridge a gap in the community support provided by the co-op. LIGHT stands for Leaving an Impact, Giving & Helping Together. Managed by LREC employee volunteers, the foundation has donated more than $300,000 to individuals in need across Lancaster, Kershaw and Chesterfield counties.
The LIGHT Foundation is funded entirely by donations, primarily raised through the co-op’s annual Golf for Good Tournament and auction.
“The LIGHT Foundation was an on-time blessing that truly had a positive impact on my family and I,” Tiffany Booker says.
Giving from the Heart is another initiative of The LIGHT Foundation. The initiative provides Thanksgiving meals to families in Lancaster, Kershaw and Chesterfield counties. In November, the campaign provided full Thanksgiving meals to 93 families. Employee volunteers also participated in Hope for the Holidays by purchasing clothes and toys for seven families, including 11 children.
To learn more about The LIGHT Foundation or to make a donation, visit The LIGHT Foundation website.