This year’s Co-Ops Care Charity Golf Tournament, a partnership between Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Victory Electric Cooperative Inc., has raised over $16,000 for local charities in the communities they serve.  

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, players, co-op employees and volunteers, both their co-ops together have raised $16,138 for their respective charity organizations: The Cram the Van food drive and Dodge City’s Avenue of Flags. 

These proceeds will be divided equally between these two charitable endeavors because “co-ops care!” 

Concern for community is one of seven cooperative principles shared by Wheatland, Victory, and co-operatives across the nation. Concern for community means the organizations work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by their members. 

More than 120 golfers took part in this year’s second annual tournament, a four-man scramble held on Aug. 28 at Mariah Hills in Dodge City. 

Wheatland’s Cram the Van food drive program began in 2014 and has since facilitated the collection of over 47 tons (95,527 pounds) of food for local food banks in the communities served. The big red van travels each fall to communities across southwest and south-central Kansas collecting donations and food items and distributing those items to the local food banks in which they were donated. 

Cram the Van will be at the Great Bend Tribune’s Women’s Expo, from 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Great Bend Events Center