Co-Mo selling “I Survived the Rocky Snowpocalypse” t-shirts to benefit Buddy Pack

After a five-day power outage last week, Co-Mo Electric Cooperative is trying to turn the difficult situation that was into a positive - with a related fundraiser for a charity that helps feed hungry children.

More than 17,000 meters went out of service during the snow storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on the Co-Mo service territory Feb. 25-26, according to the cooperative. Crews from Co-Mo and 19 other electric utilities spent five days, two hours and 40 minutes bringing everyone back online.

"We truly did survive this snowstorm as one unified membership," said John Agliata, the cooperative's communications manager and designer of the shirt. "People supported us in such unbelievable ways, from pulling ur trucks out of places they were stuck to bringing us food to just being patient while we worked in some pretty horrible conditions. So we're trying to turn the hardship that is being without power for so long and turn it into a positive to do some good in our community."

The cooperative is selling "I Survived the Rocky Snowpocalypse" T-shirts to raise money for the Buddy Pack program of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. In addition to those words - coined by Co-Mo staff and members during the weather event - the back of the T-shirt features a rendering of linemen erecting a power pole.

Buddy Pack gives children who would otherwise go hungry a backpack filled with food on Friday afternoons in school. The kids then return the empty backpacks on Monday to be refilled during the week by area volunteers. About 55,000 students in The Food Bank's service area — including more than 23,000 in the counties served with Co-Mo electricity — qualify for free and reduced-priced school meals and might otherwise go hungry over the weekend and school holidays.

Co-Mo and BW Graphics in Versailles have partnered to sell the quality T-shirt to members. The profit on each shirt will go to the Buddy Pack program. BW Graphics gave Co-Mo a price break so that more money can go to the food bank. See below for information on purchasing a T-shirt.

Eva Seibert, who coordinates the Buddy Pack program in much of Co-Mo service territory, thanked the cooperative for its effort.

"It's great to see the cooperative taking a bad thing like a major snowstorm and turning it into something positive to help feed children," she said.

Co-Mo employees have done other fundraisers for Buddy Pack as well, including a pumpkin decorating contest at Halloween and a food drive at Christmas.

T-shirts for Buddy Pack

What: "I survived the Rocky Snowpocalypse" T-shirts

Who: Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, in partnership with BW Graphics and the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri

How: Go to www.bwgraphics.com/Buddy_Pack_Fundraiser.html

Cost: $12 for infant/youth; $13 for adult up to XL; $15 for 2XL and above

All profits go to the Buddy Pack program of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

The Need

The breakdown by counties served by Co-Mo with students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch:

1,805 children in Benton County

3,301 children in Camden County

5,036 children in Cole County

1,265 children in Cooper County

2,872 children in Miller County

1,102 children in Moniteau County

1,386 children in Morgan County

4,080 children in Pettis County

2,182 children in Saline County

About Co-Mo Electric Cooperative

Co-Mo's service area comprises approximately 2,300 square miles in Central Missouri. Co-Mo exists to fulfill its members' needs for superior electric and related services at fair and reasonable prices and support its communities through economic, civic and educational opportunities.