The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $98,500 in grants during their May meeting, including $95,000 to organizations and $3,500 to individuals in need.

Organizational Grant Recipients

$15,000 — Friends of the Braselton-West Jackson Library

To help purchase reference, hardback, adult, youth and children's books, as well as books on tape for senior citizens. The Braselton-West Jackson Library's new facility, which serves patrons from Jackson, Gwinnett, Hall and Barrow counties, will open in September. While the new facility was funded by the Town of Braselton, the library must raise funds to increase their collection from the present 6,200 books to the new facility's capacity of more than 161,000 books.

$15,000 — Piedmont Regional Library System
To purchase children's books for the Winder Public Library Children's Services and the Piedmont Regional Library Extension Services' bookmobile. The Children's Services program offers a Vacation Reading Program that was attended by 500 children in 2005, as well as weekly story time and bi-weekly programs for Head Start. The bookmobile program currently serves 27 public schools and 19 preschools and childcare centers.

$15,000 — Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett
To help pay for costs of services such as additional analysis of laboratory and imaging that must be done for patients with potentially serious medical problems. The center provides non-emergency medical, dental and optometry health care services to the working poor of Gwinnett County who do not have health insurance. While initial laboratory and imaging services are provided at no cost by the Gwinnett Health System, any abnormalities requiring further analysis must be done by an outside center and are billed to the patient.

$15,000 — Habitat ReStore of Hall County
To purchase a box-truck that will enable the organization to pick up donated materials and appliances. The ReStore takes donated used or new building materials and sells them to the public at far below retail cost. By doing this, ReStore raises funds for Habitat house construction, makes good use of community resources and reduces landfill disposal.

$15,000 — Madison County Senior Center
To help fund their Home Delivered Meals program serving frail and older citizens. The program allows seniors citizens to maintain independence and dignity, while receiving nutritious meals, nutrition screening, education and counseling services, and opportunities for social contact. The Madison County Senior Center currently serves 41 home delivered meals a day, five days a week, and could be serving more senior citizens with additional funding.

$15,000 — Norcross Cooperative Ministry
To help fund their emergency Assistance Program. The program provides emergency funds for rent, mortgage and temporary lodging. Norcross Cooperative Ministry serves over 900 families each month that are experiencing temporary or long-term hardship, many of whom are referred by local churches, schools and agencies. Grant funds will allow the agency to provide a minimum support of $100 to 150 families.

$5,000 — YMCA of Athens
To allow 14 Hispanic elementary school children to participate in the Afterschool Scholarship Program for three months. The program is designed to provide the children with opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities such as football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball, modern dance, creative writing, art and roller hockey that they could otherwise not afford. In addition, the program helps improve the children's English speaking skills and provides opportunities to learn skills and gain enrichment that will benefit them the rest of their lives.

Individual Grant Recipients

$3,500 — A handicapped individual

Who lives alone to enable her to purchase a wheelchair lift for her personal vehicle, permitting her to get out of the house more and improving her quality of life.

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.