The Operation Round Up board awarded its first round of grants totaling $54,383.

Individuals and organizations submitted requests for varying needs, and thanks to Jackson EMC members, several grants were awarded to help meet their needs.

The Good News Clinics, formerly named Good News Community Health Center, received one of the larger grants of $15,000.The non-profit Good News Clinics offer free healthcare to low-income Hall County residents. The largest free clinic in Georgia, Good News provides for the medical, dental, eye care and pharmaceutical needs of its patients.

The clinic is dependent on individuals and businesses for support. The $15,000 grant will cover one month of the clinic's operating expenses.

Organizational grants totaled $49,500, while individuals received a combined $4,883.

Other organizational grant recipients include:

$5,000 — Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Athens
To help provide Mobile Pantry Programs in five counties

$4,000 — The Friends of the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia
For an environmental education program and scholarships for underprivileged children

$3,000 — The Guest House, Gainesville
To provide lunch and snacks for impaired older adults

$13,000 — Gwinnett County Association for Retarded Citizens
To assist in construction of a new group home in Snellville

$6,500 — Mercy Tree Ministries, Buford
To help provide job training for unemployed or underemployed individuals

$3,000 — Special Needs School of Gwinnett, Lawrenceville
To provide a music therapy program for children with special needs

 Individuals: 

$550 — For special shoes for cerebral palsy adult

$975 — For installation cost for wheelchair lift for child with cerebral palsy

$3,358 — For a new furnace for single-income family

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