Etex Recycling, a volunteer effort by Etex Telephone Cooperative employees, has been quite successful in raising funds to donate to charities and good causes in the area that Etex serves. To date, since beginning in 2008, a total of $20,250 has been donated.

Dan Ward, chairman of the Recycling Committee, provided the following information on funds donated since the program began in 2008:

2008—$3,000 went to the Ore City Ministerial Alliance, Upshur County Child Protection Board and Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center.

2009—$5,000 went to the Ore City Ministerial Alliance, Upshur County Child Welfare Board, Windridge, the Jefferson United Christian Alliance, and Upshur County Shares Food Pantry.

2010—$8,000 went to the Ore City Ministerial Alliance, Upshur County Child Welfare Board, Windridge, the Jefferson United Christian Alliance, Upshur County Shares Food Pantry, Ore City Food Pantry, Harleton Area Ministerial Fellowship and Marion County Ministerial Alliance.

2011—Thus far, $4,250 has gone to the Upshur County Community Fund, First National Bank’s “Fill the Bus Drive,” which intends to make sure that all children in schools in the county start the new school year with adequate school supplies, and the Upshur County Shared Services Arrangement.

In addition to Ward, Recycle Committee members include Don Ray, Donna Scates, Mark Mauldin, Carol Luce, Donna Morris, Amy Stegall, Kevin Tucker and Carolyn Studdard.

Materials recycled include bare copper, all-copper cables, aluminum, aluminum cans, brass, stainless steel, short iron, batteries, electronic cards, ABS plastic and wood pallets.

Etex General Manager Danny Kellar said that the committee meets after hours, on their own time. He praised their efforts.