The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded $86,000 in grants to organizations during its November meeting, including $34,000 to organizations serving Hall County. $12,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Society at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch for its Aid Hot Line program, which provides emergency aid to families in crisis for rent, mortgage and temporary housing. $12,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Michael Catholic Church in Gainesville to help fund direct aid for housing assistance, including rent, mortgage and temporary housing for families in crisis. $5,000 to Freedom from Bondage, an Athens recovery residence for women with drug and substance abuse dependency from Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Gwinnett and Hall counties, to help pay entry fees and rent for those who have no resources, as well as provide bus passes and a desktop computer to help the women look for employment. $5,000 to ChildKind, a nonprofit supporting families that care for medically fragile children, to help provide in-home care instructions through its Home Based Services program, preparing parents in Banks, Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties to care for their child or foster child at home. The Jackson EMC Cooperative members participating in Operation Round Up have their monthly electric bills rounded to the next dollar amount, with the “spare change” going to the Jackson EMC Foundation. Any individual or charitable organization in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC — Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe — may apply for a grant by completing an application at www.jacksonemc.com/foundation-guidelines or at local Jackson EMC offices.