By MEGAN WENTZ

PVT

Valley Electric Association held the fourth annual “Fill the Bucket Truck” event Saturday, and the community stepped up once again for a great cause.

The VEA bucket, used primarily to hoist VEA line crews into the air to repair or maintain overhead lines, was filled with donated school supplies.

“This year, with the help of the community, we were able to fill the bucket 15 times, which filled the large flat bed truck for the school districts in our service territory,” reported Staci Behnke, VEA community and governmental relations manager.

This surpassed last year’s bucket count of 11 thanks to $1,109 in cash donations, which the VEA Ambassadors used to purchase supplies to complement those that were donated.

Some of the cash donations were earmarked specifically for purchase of supplies for Sandy Valley Clark County and Fish Lake Valley Esmeralda County areas of the VEA service territory.

Karen Jackson from KNYE Radio held a live broadcast during the entire event.

Jackson called out politicians, saying, “You claim to be running because you care so much about the community. Well, here’s your chance to really make a difference. So, let’s see it.”

The VEA board members, VEA Ambassadors, employees and their families donated their time all day to this cause.

In addition to promoting the Fill the Bucket Truck event, the VEA Ambassadors were also promoting the Ambassador program and the solar water heating program.

Desert View Hospital provided baked goods for breakfast for the volunteers, as well as a cash donation, and Tarantino’s Pizza provided lunch for those who were working the event.

VEA held a power bill credit drawing for those people who donated school supplies or cash to the event. The winners were announced live on KNYE Radio.

VEA will continue to collect school supplies through July 31 at its main office on Highway 372.

The school supplies are being distributed by VEA Ambassadors to all of the schools in the VEA service territory.

Although it was a long, hot day for the volunteers, the product of their investment was well worth it.

As Jackson put it, “I’m sure the whole Valley Electric crew could be doing something better on this Saturday. Lord knows I could be. The point is, we’re doing this for the kids.”