Elachee Nature Science Center, FAITH’s Power House for Kids, Feed the Hungry Forsyth, Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia, Hall-Dawson CASA Program and Rainbow Children’s Home are this year’s recipients of the North Georgia Community Foundation Impact Grants.

Funds are awarded to nonprofits organizations to help them fund programs that meet a critical need.

“The Community Impact Grant Endowment Fund allows the North Georgia Community Foundation to help area nonprofits meet the changing needs in our community,” North Georgia Community Foundation President Jim Mathis said. “These organizations are providing critical services, and the Foundation is proud to help meet these needs.”

Elachee Nature Science Center, an outdoor education center in Gainesville, will use its $2,000 to fund scholarships for nature preschool.

FAITH’s Power House for Kids provides services to victims of child abuse in Toccoa. It will use its $1,500 grant to fund individual counseling for children who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse.

Feed the Hungry Forsyth, which meets critical food needs in Forsyth County, will use its $3,000 grant to help purchase a truck capable of transporting palletized food and related equipment.

Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia will use its $1,500 grant to purchase a new tool trailer to transport tools and other basic necessities to each Habitat build. Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build and rehabilitate homes as it works to end substandard housing in our area.

Hall-Dawson CASA Program, which provides advocacy to children who are victims of neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, received $1,500 and will use the grant to recruit and train volunteers to continue to provide 100 percent of the children referred with an advocate.

Rainbow Children’s Home is a children’s home in Dahlonega that provides counseling services, educational assistance, spiritual guidance, and an environment of hope, security and opportunity. It will use its $3,000 to fund the Independent Living Program, which provides skills and support to young girls in the state foster care system.

The NGCF Community Impact Grants are available annually to classified tax-exempt organizations in the 15-county North Georgia region, including Banks, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties. The Community Foundation awards grants between $1,500 and $3,000 through this program.