Each month, the Jackson EMC Foundation awards grant funding to worthy individuals and organizations in its 10-county service area.

In October, the foundation awarded $18,500 to three Hall County agencies that provide programs and services to the community.

The grants are funded through a program called “Operation Round Up.” The program allows the cooperative’s members to round their bill up to the nearest dollar amount. The amount of money members donate each month is less than $1 and the average member donates about $6 throughout the year. The cooperative has 194,856 individual accounts, 89 percent of which participate in the program.

“We thought we would see a drop off with the recession, but we maybe lost 1 percent. That’s phenomenal support,” said Bonnie Jones, Jackson EMC spokeswoman.

This October, Gainesville Action Ministries, a network of more than 20 Hall County congregations, received a check for $11,000. The ministries work together to prevent homelessness by providing emergency
assistance in the way of financial help, food and clothing, children’s services and GED testing fees.

Spirit of Joy Food Bank in Flowery Branch received $2,500 to purchase food for more than 30 families that they serve each month.

Another $5,000 went to Rock Goodbye Angel, a nonprofit organization that provides a support system to women and families who have experienced the loss of a child to miscarriage, neonatal loss or stillbirth. The organizations holds support groups in Hall, Gwinnett and Lumpkin counties.

Angela Ewers, founder of Rock Goodbye Angel, said the grant will go toward establishing a salary for an administrative director. She said the additional staff member will help to improve support the organization can offer to bereaved families.

“We are extremely grateful and thankful for the grant and the foundation,” Ewers said.

The foundation’s board members meet each month to determine which individuals or organizations should receive funding. The board will frequently go visit organizations it is considering for the grant to be certain the money donated by the cooperative’s members is going to deserving organizations.

Since the foundation was founded in 2005 it has put more than $7 million back into the communities served by the cooperative. The foundation has provided 687 grants to organizations and 246 grants to individuals. Individuals in need of financial assistance for anything from the construction of a wheelchair ramp, a new roof or the purchase of needed medical supplies and medications can apply for assistance through the cooperative’s website.

Charitable organizations can also apply for the foundation grant by completing an application online at www.jacksonemc.com/foundation-guidelines.