Using funds donated by cooperative members through Operation Round Up®, the Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $88,067 in grants during their March meeting, including $84,597 to organizations and $3,470 to individuals in need.

Organizational Grant Recipients

$12,000 — Ark of Jackson County, Inc.

To help with rent and provide medical assistance to 120 families within Jackson County. The Ark gives assistance to low-income families who have an emergency loss of income due to illness, loss of a job, loss work hours or loss of the primary income.

$15,000 — Banks County Senior Center

To purchase a vehicle to deliver meals through the Home Delivered Meal program. Home Delivered Meals are provided to individuals age 60 or older who are homebound because of illness, incapacitation, disability, isolated or a Community Care Services program client.

$15,000 — Challenged Child & Friends
To provide scholarships for three Lumpkin County children for one year, and 14 Hall County children for two months. Challenged Child & Friends provides services to children with special needs.

$15,000 — Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services
To purchase additional phone lines and update equipment for the Gwinnett Helpline, and materials and supplies for the Great Days of Service project. The Coalition was founded to provide greater collaboration among health and human service providers within Gwinnett County, helping ensure citizens have access to needed support services.

$5,097 — Hall County Library System
For the purchase of Special Needs Adaptive Playthings (SNAP). The organization provides adaptive toys to parents who have children with disabilities to increase their children's capabilities.

$15,500 — Peace Place, Inc.
To purchase appliances and furniture for new Transitional Housing Project. Peace Place is a short-term emergency shelter in a confidential location for battered women and their children throughout Barrow, Banks and Jackson counties.

$7,500 — Prevent Child Abuse-Gainesville
To provide educational materials and supplies to families of newborns. The organization's First Steps Program provides families of newborns with emotional support, educational materials and contacts to community resources in their county.

Individual Grant Recipients

$3,470 — Three individuals

Emergency rent/mortgage assistance program

Operation Round Up funds can be used to provide meals to the elderly, provide assistance for disaster relief and to support organizations and agencies with special program needs.

Grant Applications Available

Organizations and individuals are now applying for Operation Round Up (ORU) grants. You or a community organization may also be eligible for an ORU grant.

Any individual or organization in any of the counties served by Jackson EMC may apply for an ORU grant. The following are included in Foundation guidelines: non-profits, community-based or volunteer organizations, civic organizations, shelters, schools, hospitals, families and individuals.

Applications from organizations should target program support. Causes covered by these grants can include human need; education and development; family enrichment; literacy; health education, awareness and advocacy; and medical or disaster-related emergencies. Individuals and organizations may receive only one grant award from the Foundation each year. Awards are generally limited to $3,500 for individuals and $15,000 for organizations.

Please visit the Operation Round Up home page or call 706-367-6295 for more information.

Please visit www.jacksonemc.com/roundup or call 706-367-6295 for more information.