The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total $96,300 in grants during their October meeting, including $16,500 to organizations serving Hall County.

$9,000 was given to the Hall-Dawson CASA Program, which trains and supervises community volunteers who serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in Juvenile Court proceedings in Hall and Dawson counties, to train new volunteers, cover costs for family visitation, and provide funding for children’s food and clothing.

$7,500 was given to CHRIS 180 (Creativity, Honor, Respect, Integrity and Safety) Gwinnett Counseling Center, which serves Banks, Gwinnett and Hall counties with a mission to heal children, strengthen families and build community and to support mental health services and trauma counseling.