Miniature planes soared high over Union Reservoir on Saturday, as the Longmont Electric Aircraft Flyers celebrated another “Fun Fly” event.

For LEAF, a club that flies radio-controlled aircraft in Longmont, the Fun Fly event gives members the chance to demonstrate their skills and connect with new pilots. It’s also an opportunity for the club to give back to the community by donating to local charities, a tradition that continued this weekend.

“We really enjoy doing charity drives like this every year,” said Mark Faivre, a LEAF member. “We all know how important these charities are to Longmont, and the community.”

On Saturday, LEAF hosted representatives from Longmont Meals on Wheels and Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley at the club’s flying site near Union Reservoir. Each organization was presented with a donation of $1,200.

“Last year, we served over 115,000 meals,” said Katie Wiser, development and communications director for LMOW. “We just cannot do what we do without this community and our supporters.”

Safe Shelter interim executive director Nancy Herbert said the donation will be put toward the nonprofit’s educational programs, which teach youth how to maintain healthy relationships.

“That’s how we’re going to make a difference,” Herbert said. “That’s exactly where these funds are going to go.”

LEAF has given more than $10,000 to local charities through Fun Fly events. Every year, the club’s members vote on which charity to support; this year, LMOW and Safe Shelter tied, so both received donations.

Karla Hale, LMOW executive director, said Saturday marks the third time LMOW has benefited from the Fun Fly event.

“It’s really nice to know that you have a group (where) they continually think of you,” Hale said. “Because there’s so many other agencies out there that they could be supporting. I just always think, when we get picked again, we must be doing something right.”

A sanctioned club through the Academy of Model Aeronautics, LEAF also claims to be the only remote control flying club in Colorado that is exclusively electric. All of the planes and drones run on batteries, which are charged using solar panels installed at the flying site.

“Everybody brings their own charger, they bring their own batteries,” said Dick Myron, LEAF secretary. “We depend solely on our solar.”

Dave Hoag, LEAF vice president, enjoys the challenge of flying electric planes. He said he owns around 16 radio-controlled planes and eight radio-controlled helicopters. An average radio-controlled plane might go for around $250, he said.

“If you wanted to fly a regular airplane, it would cost a heck of a lot of money,” Hoag said. “This is addicting, too.”

LEAF members want to get more young people involved in the club. LEAF flyers attend events at the St. Vrain Valley School District’s Innovation Center to spread the word about the club, and kids under 10 can become LEAF members for free.

“(It’s) to get them interested in aeronautics, period,” Faivre said. “Maybe we’ll get five or six kids who turn into pilots.”

For more information about LEAF, visit leafrc.com.