2020 Jackson EMC Foundation Annual Report

PARTNERING TO MEET CRISIS

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

PARTNERING TO MEET CRISIS A letter from Joel Harbin & Chip Jakins

Each month since October 2005, the Jackson EMC Foundation has distributed multiple grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Northeast Georgia. Because these grants are funded by money collected from Jackson EMC members through Operation Round Up, the Foundation employs a rigorous vetting procedure when reviewing grant applications, approving only those that meet the highest standards and serve the most people.

shelter-in-place mandates, many throughout our service area were impacted as schools and businesses closed, parents lost jobs and families lost housing. Our proven community partners worked feverishly to meet the need.

As the pandemic spread, many of our

nonprofit partners lost manpower when their faithful but older volunteers—the demographic most vulnerable to the virus—hunkered down at home. Jolts to the supply chain left food banks in short supply. Social distancing forced the agencies to rethink operational procedures.

And as they encountered more need than ever before, nonprofit employees and volunteers were overwhelmed.

To help them help those in greatest need,

It can be a time-consuming process.

the Foundation, for the first time, awarded

When COVID-19 led to business shutdowns

emergency grants to nonprofits that provide

and school closures in mid-March, the

basic services. The grants were offered only to

Foundation’s Board of Directors realized we

past grant recipients that were already vetted,

were in a unique position to meet immediate

thereby eliminating the timely vetting process.

need—and we knew time was of the essence.

We sent emails letting these groups know that

emergency grants were available in addition to

While our guidelines have permitted

emergency funding since the Foundation

routine Foundation grants they may receive

began, 2020 marked the first time in our 15

this year. Knowing our community needed

years that an event of this magnitude affected

help fast—and that the nonprofits needed to

our entire 10-county territory. Within weeks of

get to work quickly—we bypassed the

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Annual Report

traditional application process, requiring only

a two-page summary of requests, another effort

we will recall 2020 as the year the Foundation

to ensure speedy review.

halted business as usual to supply emergency

funding to local nonprofits so they could

In March, April and May, the Foundation

We are quite certain that, long from now,

awarded 32 grants to nonprofits that rapidly

provide immediate aid to those suffering most

responded to the crisis by feeding the hungry,

in this pandemic—people who could be your

housing the homeless and providing medicine

friends or neighbors.

for the sick. This year’s annual report features 11 of these agencies. Their leaders share the

Sincerely,

difficulties encountered while serving those struggling in a pandemic.

One recipient summed up what all our

partner nonprofits told us: “We were so excited

Joel Harbin,

and grateful for the grant. It meant we didn’t

Chair, Jackson EMC Foundation

have to turn anyone away.”

Since its inception, the Jackson EMC

Foundation has partnered with area nonprofits that do the most good, awarding a total of $15,708,412 in grants. This year, the Foundation

Chip Jakins,

awarded $1,240,076 in community grants with

President/CEO, Jackson EMC

$969,319 disbursed as regular grants and another $270,757 given as emergency grants.

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“There was no playbook for this.”

GEORGIA M O U N T A I N F O O D BA N K Gainesville / gamountainfoodbank.org

FOOD

10,000

$

for Emergency Food Assistance

Serves: Hall and Lumpkin counties

Noe, left, shares “thumbs up” with Georgia Mountains YMCA CEO Amy Kienle and Food Bank Board Member Dennis Stockton after receiving groceries at a distribution at the YMCA.

In the middle of March, operations at Georgia Mountain Food Bank transitioned from routine to unpredictable almost overnight. need. The food bank supplies five

imagine what that did to our donations.

hourly, with food donations in sharp

counties, including Hall and Lumpkin

We saw decreases of up to 50%. The

decline, school meals being missed, and

where 49 of their 71 partner agencies are

stores just couldn’t replace products on

service workers losing their income,”

located.

their shelves fast enough. The supply

recalls Executive Director Kay

chain was frozen.”

Blackstock. “A decrease in food

food and grocery products that these

availability created uncertainty for all.”

smaller agencies distribute,” says

go-to for emergency food, Georgia

“Things were developing daily, even

“We typically supply the majority of

Blackstock felt that, as the region’s

Blackstock, noting that, in normal times,

Mountain Food Bank was responsible for

nonprofit food distributor would continue

almost 65% of the food bank’s inventory

acquiring enough food to stock the

to supply its partner agencies on the

comes from retail donations. “When the

frontline food pantries.

front lines of food donations. Those

pandemic began to put a stranglehold on

partners include small food pantries that

the country and people rushed to grocery

we knew we could not let hunger

provide groceries to their neighbors in

stores and emptied the shelves, you can

exacerbate the pandemic,” she says.

Blackstock was determined the

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“There was no playbook for this, but

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Georgia Mountain Food Bank distributed food through community food drives at least once weekly during the crisis.

supporter in multiple ways. We appreciate the fact that the

“We had to provide our service as quickly as possible.”

Jackson EMC Foundation supports many of our partners and

By June, with cash donations from the Jackson EMC

Foundation and other charitable organizations, Georgia

peer food banks as well.”

Mountain Food Bank had purchased $70,000 worth of food for

its COVID-19 response. The director estimates her agency’s total

Mountain Food Bank summer distribution, expresses gratitude.

expense in responding to the crisis could reach $500,000 by

“It goes to show there are still people who care,” she concludes.

Elisa, a client who received groceries during a Georgia

year’s end.

“There was no playbook for this, but we knew we could not let hunger exacerbate the pandemic. We had to provide our service as quickly as possible.”

— KAY BLACKSTOCK

“There’s still a lot of need out there,” she says. “When we

look at the counties we serve, we have double-digit unemployment with numbers five times higher than they were last year. We’re helping the newly unemployed who have never been in this position, plus we’re taking care of those already struggling.”

Hearing from Jackson EMC’s Foundation coordinator Lori

Worley was a blessing out of the blue, according to Blackstock: “She said that since we’d been a grant-funded charity in the past, they were offering us emergency funding. We were thrilled by that. Jackson EMC’s Operation Round Up has been our

Adrian, left, calls Georgia Mountain Food Bank her family’s “lifesaver” during the early stages of the pandemic. “It was hard to track down anything in the stores, and what was there was expensive,” she says.

“This filled the gap.”

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“We needed the extra help.”

ME NDI NG THE GAP Lawrenceville / mending-the-gap.org

FOOD

3,000

$

Serves:

for Save Our Seniors meal program

Gwinnett County

Betty, resident of an apartment complex in Lawrenceville, receives groceries from Mending the Gap volunteer Lisa Wilson as volunteers Beverly Mayes and B.J. Burton check their list to make sure all participating residents are served.

Just days into the pandemic, Mending the Gap’s average of 300 seniors served by their agency increased to more than 400, according to Founder and Executive Director Fay Josephs.

“This is a critical time for senior citizens who are the most

“The increase in services due to COVID left us with empty

vulnerable for COVID-19, which has had a major impact on our

shelves and limited resources,” says Josephs. “At the same time,

programs,” says Josephs. “The needs have dramatically increased.”

there was a decrease in donations as donors were reluctant to

Mending the Gap serves low-income seniors who live independently by providing them with emotional support, camaraderie, groceries, toiletries and household cleaning supplies.

give because they also were feeling the pressure, and our spring fundraiser was canceled.”

A $3,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation helped fill the gap for Mending the Gap, which worked to keep their senior

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Annual Report

Apartment resident Olanrewaju, left, gratefully receives a bag of food from Mending the Gap volunteer Beverly Mayes.

increased our phone calls to seniors to reassure and

clients at home—safe and healthy.

“We needed the extra help,” says Josephs. “It was wonderful because

encourage them through this difficult time,” says Josephs.

we wanted to provide as much support as we could.”

Whereas the nonprofit agency routinely delivers groceries and

Darlene, the resident of a Lawrenceville apartment

household supplies to seniors once a month, during the pandemic, they

complex where many seniors receive Mending the

increased deliveries to once a week. And, for the first time, they

Gap services, heaps praise on the nonprofit.

“What they do for us is something we can depend

delivered prepared meals to clients.

on,” she says while clutching a brand new bag

“The increase in services due to COVID left us with empty shelves and limited resources.”

chockfull of groceries.

— FAY JOSEPHS

“Because they are so susceptible to this virus, we have been delivering meals to our seniors’ homes twice a week,” says Josephs.

“This helped keep them safe at home.”

To deliver fresh meals to seniors twice weekly, Mending the Gap worked with local restaurants that donated meals or gave discounts.

“That’s mainly what our grant went to—to provide meals and deliver groceries to more seniors, more frequently, which helped them stay home and stay safe,” says Josephs.

The Jackson EMC Foundation assistance enabled Mending the Gap to redirect attention that might have gone into procuring funds to addressing other needs of senior citizens.

“For older adults who cherish time spent with friends, this distancing can be tough mentally and emotionally, therefore we

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John, a Lawrenceville resident, counts on Mending the Gap for food and household items.

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“Our food pantry was empty.”

LUMP KIN COUNTY F AMI L Y CONNE CTI ON Dahlonega / lumpkin.gafcp.org

FOOD

5,000

$

for food for Backpack Buddies Program

Serves: Lumpkin County

Lumpkin County Family Connection Executive Director Brigette Barker prepares to deliver a box of fresh produce to a family in need.

Brigette Barker, executive director for Lumpkin County Family Connection, relies on numbers to tell the story of COVID-19’s impact on her agency’s mission to provide food to families in need.

“Before the pandemic, we were feeding 40 families a week, and that went up to 120 a week,” she says. “Whereas we used to give out 3,000 pounds of food each month, we were doing 10,000

items from food banks were getting scarce. Then when school closed, we started to panic because the number of requests tripled.”

Due to school cancelations and parents losing income during the pandemic, the need for assistance with food

pounds because of the virus.”

Routinely, Lumpkin County Family Connection provides food on weekends for about 140 children through its Backpack

increased dramatically, according to Barker.

“But inventory at the food bank dropped really low, so our

Buddies Program, which sends kids home from school each

food pantry was empty,” she adds. “With inventory also low at

Friday with backpacks loaded with food. But that number more

grocery stores, we had to get creative in order to feed families.

than doubled last spring.

We purchased food wherever we could find it—grocery stores,

“We found ourselves in a predicament around March,” says Barker. “We started to see what was coming with COVID, and

restaurants, food banks—so we could get it to families who get free and reduced lunches or were otherwise affected by COVID.”

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Annual Report

At the height of the pandemic, more than 60 volunteers helped box food at Family Connection’s office at Lumpkin County Middle School where drive-up distributions were held since students weren’t in school to get backpacks. Families received nonperishables, meats, milk and fresh produce. The Jackson EMC Foundation grant helped the nonprofit continue its cause.

“A good portion of our funding already comes from the Jackson EMC Foundation, which covers half of the 140 children we typically serve,” says Barker. “Then we got an email asking if we needed more funding. We were telling people ‘We’ll feed you, we’ll feed you,’ but we didn’t know how we were going to do that. It was definitely a faith over fear moment.”

The grant was approved about the same time Lumpkin County schools were on spring break, Barker recalls: “Schools had started doing meals, but they weren’t providing them during spring break.

We used some of the money from the emergency grant to purchase families gift cards to local restaurants that were struggling as well. It was a great opportunity to help not only families that were hurting but small businesses in our community.”

Like many nonprofit agencies who weathered the COVID-19

Volunteer Carl Gibson loads his truck with food he’ll take to families in need.

crisis, Lumpkin County Family Connection has made numerous operational changes, including holding weekly food drives in the summer whereas food was only distributed upon request during past summer breaks.

Bottom line, says Barker, “We haven’t had to turn away anyone,

“With inventory also low at grocery stores, we had to get creative in order to feed families.”

thanks to this emergency grant.”

Among the superheroes who served their communities by helping Lumpkin County Family Connection meet abundant need are, from left, volunteer Heather Marshall, Executive Director Brigette Barker and volunteer Wendy Whitfield.

Tammy is grateful for assistance that helps her provide meals to foster children in her care.

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— BRIGETTE BARKER

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“One day they went to work; the next day, they were let go.”

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY/PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH Flowery Branch / popfb.org

HOUSING

10,000

$

for Emergency Assistance with rent, mortgage and housing

Serves: Hall, Jackson and Gwinnett counties

Concern for those adversely affected by COVID-19 weighs heavy on St. Vincent de Paul Co-President Ron Lowe.

Some people who were suddenly out of jobs during the pandemic faced a crisis when they couldn’t afford to pay their rent or monthly mortgage. St. Vincent de Paul-Prince of Peace Conference in Flowery Branch worked to meet that need.

St. Vincent de Paul routinely provides services and financial assistance to low-income families struggling to meet basic

Lowe, who targeted their Jackson EMC Foundation grant funds to help families pay rent and mortgage.

needs and maintain financial stability. With the onset of the coronavirus, the nonprofit organization anticipated an increase in requests for help.

As the economic downturn resulted in high unemployment, many already hard-hit families found themselves unable to pay for housing or utilities, according to St. Vincent-Prince of Peace Conference Co-Presidents Beverly Kazienko and Ron

“I’ve heard someone say, ‘It’s not paycheck to paycheck. It’s minimum payment to minimum payment.’”

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— RON LOWE

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Annual Report

While consultations with clients are usually done in person, St. Vincent de Paul practiced social distancing by visiting with clients on the phone, as Co-President Ron Lowe does here.

averages $1,000 a month in their area. Lowe applauded independent landlords who held off on evictions during the crisis in order to give renters the option to catch up on payments in coming months.

“We knew some of these folks were in bad enough financial shape that if they got three months behind, the odds were against them ever catching up,” says Lowe.

“These are people living on the financial edge. I’ve heard someone say, ‘It’s not paycheck to paycheck. It’s minimum payment to minimum payment.’”

Not all landlords were able to offer postponed payments because some depend on the monthly rent to pay their own mortgage, according to Lowe, who says the St. Vincent de Paul Society routinely works with landlords and banks to prevent evictions and foreclosures.

“We anticipate this need will increase dramatically as Opening the mail to find an eviction notice prompts a prayer for help.

the pandemic progresses,” he adds.

Their organization already had put in this year’s

“We got that money on April 1 and by April 10, it was gone,”

request for a grant when they got an email from Lori

says Kazienko, noting that 40 individuals were helped by the

Worley advising that the Jackson EMC Foundation was

grant. “In April, so many asked for help, but in May it slowed

offering emergency grants.

“We jumped on it because we knew we’d need it,”

down, and we think that’s because people were starting to get stimulus checks and unemployment. The biggest challenge was

Kazienko recalls. “In the beginning when all this got

that people lost their job immediately. One day they went to

crazy and they started shutting down everything, our

work; the next day, they were let go.”

donations went down. We were elated when we heard from

Most families used the funding they received from the

Jackson EMC.”

Foundation to pay rent, according to Kazienko, who says rent

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“I’m so thankful we were able to stay here.”

S A LV A TI ON ARMY/ATHE NS Athens / uss.salvationarmy.org

HOUSING

10,000

$

for Emergency Assistance with housing, shelter and food

Serves: Clarke, Madison and Oglethorpe counties

What might have been a woeful experience for Shylexius and her baby, Brooklynn, was transformed into a joyful memory, thanks to the Salvation Army in Athens.

Shylexius was entering her third trimester of pregnancy

Salvation Army Captain Mechelle Henry holds 2-week-old Brooklynn.

so I offered her a job as a dorm monitor. It’s part-time, but with

when her mom lost hours from her job and couldn’t pay for car

COVID she worked extra hours and was able to get back into

repairs. Her mother, Katrina, ended up losing her transportation,

public housing in June.”

job and home. Katrina moved her family, including Shylexius

During their four-month stay at the shelter, Katrina’s family

and her four siblings, into the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope

was showered with love. And at a baby shower shortly before

shelter in Athens just as the pandemic was starting to ramp up.

the baby arrived, employees and volunteers gave the family

“She had stayed here briefly a year before,” says Salvation

“enough diapers to last six months,” according to Mechelle.

Army Captain Mechelle Henry, who oversees the shelter with her husband, Erik. “I knew she was trustworthy and hardworking,

On May 21, baby Brooklynn was born at Athens Piedmont Hospital. Four days later, mother and child returned “home” to

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“It’s a different kind of different; we just have to work around whatever the barriers are.”

— MECHELLE HENRY

With a bond that will last forever, Salvation Army Captain Mechelle Henry, left, gets an update on baby Brooklynn’s growth from mom Shylexius and grandmother Katrina.

the shelter. “I’m more than grateful,” Shylexius said while

Prior to the pandemic, Center of Hope operated as an

cradling her 2-week-old baby in June. “I’m so thankful we were

emergency shelter, open 365 days a year but only at night.

able to stay here.”

Typically in the daytime, shelter residents go to work or look for

“It’s been a privilege,” Katrina added, “to have a roof over our heads.”

jobs. But starting in March, jobs and job opportunities were gone.

“As the number of COVID cases rose, so did its impact on those who need the Salvation Army,” says Mechelle. To meet the rapidly growing need, the shelter opened around-the-clock.

Daily operations changed dramatically. Social distancing allowed only 54 of the shelter’s 76 beds to be in use. Extra cleaning was done twice daily, and residents were provided masks.

“It’s a different kind of different; we just have to work around whatever the barriers are,” says Mechelle, noting that the Jackson EMC Foundation grant was instrumental in keeping their services ongoing. “As we got into shelter in place in mid-March, a lot of businesses started closing and, by April, people were asking us for assistance with rent and utilities. We helped a lot of people stay in their homes by paying their rent.

And with our shelter care, we helped people with their medicines, helped them look for an apartment, look for jobs, and helped clothe some of them. When it comes to housing, it’s a little bit of everything.”

With their thrift store closed due to COVID-19, the Salvation Army needed assistance.

“Donations went down, but people still needed help,” says Mechelle. “The Jackson EMC Foundation grant came at a wonderful time. Because of it, we knew that when people came

Shylexius lived at a Salvation Army shelter when daughter Brooklynn was born in May.

to us and asked for help, we would be able to provide it.”

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“Families were grateful.”

JACKSON CO U N T Y S C HO O L S Y S T E M Jefferson / jacksonschoolsga.org

EDUCATION

2,800

$

for Education Assistance with Wi-Fi options

Serves: Jackson County

Kannam, 4, beams with pride as he uses his laptop onboard a Jackson County school bus parked near his neighborhood.

When schools closed in mid-March due to the pandemic, education suddenly shifted from an in-classroom experience to online learning. That shift threatened to leave behind students with limited or no internet access.

Thanks to an emergency grant from

The Jackson EMC Foundation helped

“Due to the limited cable/fiber options

the Jackson EMC Foundation, internet

turn over the proverbial stones by

available, we had approximately 200

access was transported into communities

providing grants to four school systems

students who had no access to learning

that lacked it, giving all students equal

for Wi-Fi access: Commerce, Jefferson,

while being required to shelter in place,”

opportunity for education.

Jackson County and Madison County.

says Jackson County School System

With their grant, the Jackson County

Superintendent April Howard. “Our

kids don’t have internet,” says Jackson

School System purchased three

technology team partnered with our

County School System Director of

SuperKajeet SmartBus Wi-Fi systems,

transportation department and we

Technology Michael Summer. “We need

hot spot products that provide a 100-yard

equipped three buses to allow these

to turn over every stone to do everything

range for connectivity when mounted on

students to participate in the same remote

we can for our students.”

a school bus.

learning experience as their peers.”

“You can’t have distance learning if

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Annual Report

Marleigh, left, and Emma share a laugh while working on school work outside a Jackson County school bus outfitted with a high-speed mobile hot spot.

“Our technology team partnered with our transportation department and we equipped three buses to allow these students to participate in the same remote learning experience as their peers.”

— APRIL HOWARD

A wireless broadband provider that specializes in the K-12 market,

Kajeet supplies content filtering and Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliance, ensuring that children are not able to access unsavory sites or social media, according to Summer.

“They are for educational purposes only,” he says. “Families were

grateful for their children being able to bring home Chromebooks and have internet access to use them.”

The three Wi-Fi-equipped buses were parked in different

neighborhoods where the need was greatest. A piece of paper taped to the door shared the user name and password students could use to connect to the internet. Buses remained parked from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“In one neighborhood, the bus driver parked close to a community

pool, so kids were able to sit at a picnic table under the shade to do their schoolwork,” says Summer. “With the Jackson EMC Foundation gift, we were able to reach the most kids in each neighborhood. Moving forward, we may be able to use these Wi-Fi systems more.”

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Marleigh, left, and Mitchell could drive to the nearest Wi-Fi equipped bus to access the internet.

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“COVID-19 created urgency.”

MA DIS ON C OUNTY SCHOOL SYSTE M Danielsville / Madison.k12.ga.us

EDUCATION

8,000

$

Serves:

for Education/Wi-Fi ($4,000) & Food/Backpack Program ($4,000)

Madison County

Gabriella and her brother Bayne check school assignments with Wi-Fi provided by a mobile hotspot on a Madison County school bus.

With approximately 5,000 students attending Madison County School System’s seven schools, about one-fifth of the student population does not have adequate internet access at home. When schools closed and students shifted to online learning in March, these students ran the risk of not getting the same level of instruction as their peers with reliable internet access.

“We are a predominantly agricultural district that still has a

we had been cognizant for some time of the homework gap, or

lot of rural areas with limited or no internet access, and this has

digital divide, the gap was amplified by our sudden switch to

been a barrier, a challenge, for many of our students,” says

digital learning as our only option.”

Madison Schools Superintendent Michael Williams. “Although

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“Getting the mobile hotspots to where students live allowed them to either stay at home or walk nearby to complete their schoolwork.”

— MICHAEL WILLIAMS

A $4,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation enabled Madison Schools to purchase four Kajeet SmartBus Wi-Fi systems, which were installed in four school buses. With a range of 100 yards, the length of a football field, the mobile hotspot allows students within range to access the internet. In the spring, buses were driven to neighborhoods that lacked connectivity and parked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Students within 100 yards of the bus would have internet,” says Williams. “Getting the mobile hotspots to where students live allowed them to either stay at home or walk nearby to complete their schoolwork, and families outside the 100-yard range could drive their kids to the bus and the kids could sit in the car to do schoolwork.”

Williams says the school system would reevaluate mobile access locations as necessary in case distance learning carries over to the 2020-21 school term—when all students are issued a Chromebook.

“Smartphones are prevalent, but there’s a limited amount of schoolwork you can do on a smartphone,” says Williams. “With Chromebooks, students need internet capability, and with the mobile While schooling from home last spring, Gerardo pedaled his bicycle to a school bus parked in his rural neighborhood to provide internet connectivity.

hotspots that we have now, we’re able to provide that to students who otherwise would not have the internet access they need for schoolwork.”

Bringing Wi-Fi into neighborhoods without it came sooner than he might have expected, according to Williams.

“Eventually we would have done this anyway, but COVID-19

created urgency and the need for a rapid response to provide this for our students, and now we’re set up to do it in the future,” he says.

“Parents are very appreciative of the ability to connect to the internet, and we are very appreciative of the Jackson EMC Foundation for their generosity and for shortening their application process and increasing the urgency to get this approved. Having the Jackson EMC Foundation contribute to the success of our students is just so impactful.”

This cellphone shows availability of Wi-Fi provided through Kajeet SmartBus.

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“People were under so much stress.”

NORT H GWI NNE TT COOPE RATI VE Buford / northgwinnettcoop.org

HEALTH & MEDICATION

20,000

$

for food and prescription medications

Serves: Gwinnett County

Buford residents Gretta and Eddie know they can depend on North Gwinnett Cooperative. “Eddie has multiple health problems,” says Gretta. “The Co-op helps us with our co-pays for things like inhalers and insulin. I don’t know what we would do without them.”

In March and April, North Gwinnett Cooperative distributed more food than in all of 2019, according to Executive Director Kim Phillips. While the co-op gave out 172,000 pounds of food in 2019, an astonishing 181,000 pounds was provided in just two months last spring.

Prior to COVID-19, the nonprofit

confusion from those who had never

worked and, all of a sudden, neither was

served an average of 21 families per day.

been to a food bank and were asking for

working. We saw families who had

On March 30, due to the pandemic, they

help for the first time,” she recalls, noting

savings that ran out while they waited on

served 250 families, according to Phillips.

that 43% of those served at the onset of

unemployment payments.”

“We saw a lot of anxiety and fear, a lot of that deer-in-the-headlights look and

the crisis were new clients. “We had families where Mom and Dad both

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A nonprofit that routinely provides food, medicine and other necessities to those in

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“We saw a lot of anxiety and fear, a lot of that deer-in-the-headlights look and confusion from those who had never been to a food bank and were asking for help for the first time.”

— KIM PHILLIPS

Phillips witnessed the crisis leading to an increase in need for blood pressure and other medications.

“People were under so much stress,” she says, recalling one client whose medicine costs $800 a month. “She could only afford $200 a month, so until her insurance company would approve it, we paid the difference.”

Every other week, the co-op delivered food and medication to the doorsteps of their clients so that older residents didn’t have to leave their homes.

“That helped us keep our seniors safe,” says Phillips. “We are blessed in Gwinnett that so many nonprofits, like the Jackson EMC Foundation, partner with us to get the job done.”

As the cost of living due to health concerns goes up for seniors, their benefits do not.

“A lot of our seniors make the decision whether they eat or take their medicine,” Phillips concludes. “We want them to not have to make that decision but get both. The Jackson EMC Foundation grant enabled us to provide food during the crisis and to serve 50 additional families with the prescription medication they need.”

Carolyn appreciates the help she gets from North Gwinnett Co-op, which picks up her medicine and pays the co-pay. “The love, patience and personalities of the staff and volunteers are fantastic,” she says. “They just save me.”

need, North Gwinnett Co-op focused on food and medication at the onset of the pandemic. With a $20,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation, they were able to meet the growing need.

“Like everybody else, we had to adapt quickly,” says Phillips.

“In normal times, people would come to our office, be seen by an intake coordinator, we’d give them a check and they would go get their medicine. Last spring, we called all of our senior clients

Ever at her husband’s side, Gretta lovingly adjusts Eddie’s mask to ensure his safety.

and said, ‘Please don’t come here. We’ll get your medication and bring it to you.’”

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“The challenge in March led to a crisis.”

A MERICA N RED CROSS OF NORTHE AST GE ORGI A Watkinsville / Redcross.org/local/Georgia/about-us/locations/northeast-georgia

HEALTH & MEDICATION

10,000

$

for biomedical services for blood collection

Serves: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe counties

Emily was one of many community members who donated blood as a way to help others during the pandemic.

Groceries and hand sanitizer weren’t the only things in short supply last spring when COVID-19 hit the nation.

The America Red Cross faced a severe blood shortage after an unprecedented number of blood drives were canceled during the coronavirus outbreak.

“As the pandemic grew, we saw blood drive cancellations

shortage, according to Vella. With 40% of the nation’s blood

grow at an alarming rate,” recalls Joe Vella, regional philanthropy

supply provided through the American Red Cross, the

officer for the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia. “This

organization takes pride in the fact that it provides a safe and

impacted patients who needed surgery, victims of car accidents

efficient blood supply to fill the nation’s needs, he adds.

or other emergencies, and patients suffering from cancer.

“This is dependent on donors, and the challenge in March

Healthy individuals were needed to give blood to help patients

led to a crisis,” Vella says. “In Georgia and across the nation,

counting on lifesaving blood throughout the pandemic.”

elective surgeries were postponed. In May, elective surgeries

In Jackson EMC’s service area, 51 blood drives were canceled between March 9 and April 30, amounting to a 1,167-pint blood

were happening again, so we found ourselves urging people to donate blood and urging organizations to stage blood drives.”

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Annual Report

The Jackson EMC Foundation grant money was used to fund blood drives by paying for the medical staff and supplies, promotion of the drive, and refrigeration of the blood collected.

“While the coronavirus pandemic has grabbed ahold of us and thrown us into a frenzy, the work of the Red Cross to fill its day-in, day-out mission continues,” says Vella. “The $10,000 from the Jackson EMC Foundation is a significant sum that we didn’t have for biomedical purposes, and we are doing what we can to assure a safe and available blood supply.”

In the coming year, Red Cross will invest $150 million in the U.S. for biomedical relief and research, according to Vella, who says the outlay will fund research on plasma utilization for coronavirus survivors in order to find antibodies necessary to create a vaccine.

Along with ensuring a safe and reliable blood supply, the American

Blood Collection Technician Shakira assists Emily during her donation.

Red Cross of Northeast Georgia assists families who lose homes to fire.

“We act as major consolers,” says Vella. “We’re the ones throwing a blanket around those folks in the middle of the night and providing emergency shelter, food and counseling.”

In a recent six-month period, the Red Cross assisted 279 victims of house fires in Gwinnett County alone, according to Vella.

“Jackson EMC members who donate to Operation Round Up want to make sure their money stays local,” he concludes. “With house fire assistance and blood drives, we accomplish both, and we take great pride in that.”

Blood donor Marci did her part to replenish Georgia’s blood supply last spring.

JacksonEMC.com

“In Georgia and across the nation, elective surgeries were postponed. In May, elective surgeries were happening again, so we found ourselves urging people to donate blood and urging organizations to stage blood drives.”

— JOE VELLA

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“The possibilities are endless.”

COMMU N I T Y HE L P I N G P L A C E Dahlonega / communityhelpingplace.org

OTHER SERVICES

5,000

$

for Emergency Assistance with food, rent and transportation

Serves: Lumpkin County

Jessica takes her trike for a test ride at her apartment complex in Dahlonega.

Community Helping Place was in its early stages of responding to the COVID-19 outbreak when they heard from the Jackson EMC Foundation.

“We were excited and comforted by the news that the

Foundation would consider requests for special funding for emergency assistance,” recalls Executive Director Melissa Line. “Their generous offer to consider additional funding could not have come at a more critical time.”

As Lumpkin County’s largest outreach program,

Community Helping Place serves one in seven Lumpkin

food. We had folks asking for more than we usually provide.”

County residents by providing a variety of needs, including

food, medical, housing and transportation. Just days into the

increased by 30 families weekly, according to Line, who says

pandemic, the nonprofit began to feel the crunch.

the pandemic brought increased costs for extra cleaning

supplies, paperwork and signs to notify clients of social

“We started seeing an uptick in need by the end of March,”

says Line. “We immediately saw a 25% increase in requests for

During the week of March 16, the agency’s foot traffic

distancing. Funds at the nonprofit were already on the

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Annual Report

Jessica’s pride was palpable upon receiving her new trike. From left are, Community Helping Place Executive Director Melissa Line, Logistics Manager David Smith, Jessica, Resource Coordinator Kim Smith and Director of Client Services Debi Holloway.

“This means the world to me,” Jessica says of receiving an adult trike and accessories, including helmet. “I am grateful.”

“We were excited and comforted by the news that the Foundation would consider requests for special funding for emergency assistance.”

help her with health care and other needs,” says Line. “We

— MELISSA LINE

the thrift store, had experienced declining sales since 2018 due mostly to competition from other thrift shops.

“We were already stretched as tightly as possible to meet

our budget, and the need for our services kept increasing exponentially as a result of COVID-19,” she says. “But with assistance from Jackson EMC’s and other foundations, we didn’t have to turn anyone away.”

“She’d gone from living in a storage shed to living in a

subsidized apartment and landed on her feet, so we’ve tried to

big a financial burden for her to pay for insurance, tag and maintenance. She said an adult trike would be ideal.”

Community Helping Place used part of their Jackson EMC

Foundation grant to purchase a purple trike with a basket Jessica can use to carry groceries and other items.

“Now I can transport myself to and from places,” she said,

beaming the June day she received the trike. “It may take some practice and endurance, but it will be worth it. I can ride to the park with my kids, go get groceries, and go back and

Their grant money helped the agency expand its gas

forth to work now. This means the world to me. The

voucher program, which provides $20 vouchers for those

possibilities are endless. I am grateful.”

needing assistance with transportation.

Jessica lacked a way to get to work so she didn’t have a job.

would have been willing to get her a car but felt it would be too

downturn, she says, noting that their largest source of revenue,

One client who needed help with transportation was

assisted in a unique way. A single mom in Dahlonega,

“We were able to give out more of those with fewer

restrictions,” says Line. “And we were able to help people with bills as high as $380, thanks to the extra funding.”

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

“This meant the world to my daughter and me.”

GEORGI A M O U N T A I N S Y M C A Gainesville / gamountainsymca.org

OTHER SERVICES

15,000

$

for Crisis Childcare

Serves: Hall County

Tara looks on as her daughter, Tate, and Project Leader Jennifer Godfrey review their day.

Like other nonprofits in Jackson EMC’s service area, Georgia Mountains YMCA received an emergency grant last spring for which its staff and those served were thankful.

“The funds from the Jackson EMC

“It allowed us to offer childcare to

working fulltime was that schoolwork

Foundation helped us fulfill our mission,”

medical professionals, first responders

was adding huge stress. Kids being able

says Director of Development Amy Booth.

and other essential workers who relied

to visit here with our counselors and

on us to care for their children as they

certified teacher took that piece off the

childcare center a month before the

battled this virus on the frontline,” Booth

plate for the family.”

pandemic changed day-to-day life in

says, noting she recognized increased

Georgia. Overnight, the new center

stress levels in working parents who

according to Booth, who says that while a

transitioned into “Crisis Camp” to offer

suddenly had kids home from school.

traditional YMCA day camp costs $135

crisis childcare for families affected by the

“They ran the risk of losing jobs because

per week per child, the cost for crisis

COVID-19 pandemic. The “camp” was open

they didn’t have childcare. One of the

childcare was reduced to $50.

for childcare from March 16 to May 22.

biggest things for parents who were still

Fortuitously, the YMCA had opened a

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Fifty students attended Crisis Camp,

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Annual Report

Tate waves goodbye to her mom as she prepares to enter the YMCA with Project Leader Jennifer Godfrey.

“We lowered the cost and extended our hours to

accommodate law enforcement, first responders and medical professionals whose shifts are typically 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” says Booth, noting that children received two meals, a snack, help with homework and socialization. “At a time when social distancing is a priority, the YMCA can provide socialization, and while we can’t give children hugs or even a high five, we can show them love and support.”

“We truly appreciate the ongoing support of the Jackson EMC Foundation, which has supported us over the years. This added assistance meant a great deal in helping us support the community around us.”

— AMY BOOTH

With help from counselors, students held Zoom sessions

with their school teachers and were able to keep up with classwork in a fun and safe atmosphere, according to Booth.

“We truly appreciate the ongoing support of the Jackson

EMC Foundation, which has supported us over the years,” she says. “This added assistance meant a great deal in helping us support the community around us.”

Tara is a single parent who appreciates the help. An

administrative assistant with Northeast Georgia Health Systems, her job since the onset of COVID-19 has been to support counselors who help fellow employees deal with the stress and anxieties of the pandemic.

“I’ve seen this crisis from every angle,” says Tara. “Having

this childcare has been a lifesaver for me because without it, I would have no job. I simply had no other childcare options.

This meant the world to my daughter and me.”

Stress was reduced for Tara and Tate, thanks to Georgia Mountains YMCA.

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

EMERGENCY GRANTS SPR I NG 2020

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Annual Report

American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia: $10,000/biomedical services for blood collection; Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe counties Athens Community Council on Aging: $10,000/food for seniors; Clarke County Atlanta Community Food Bank: $20,000/food; Gwinnett County Banks-Jackson Food Bank: $5,000/food; Banks and Jackson counties Commerce City Schools: $3,600/Wi-Fi for students; Jackson County Community Helping Place: $5,000/food, rent and transportation; Lumpkin County Duluth First United Methodist Church: $1,000/food for children; Gwinnett County Food Bank of Northeast Georgia: $10,000/food; Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties Georgia Mountain Food Bank: $10,000/food; Hall and Lumpkin counties Georgia Mountains YMCA: $15,000/crisis childcare; Hall County Good News Clinics: $10,000/medications and diabetic testing supplies; Hall County Hamilton Mill UMC Food Pantry: $2,500/food; Gwinnett and Barrow counties iServe Ministries: $10,000/food; Jackson and Madison counties J.M. Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA: $15,000/food and emergency childcare, Gwinnett County Jackson County School System: $2,800/Wi-Fi for students; Jackson County Jefferson City Schools: $3,000/Wi-Fi options for students; Jackson County Lawrenceville Cooperative: $10,000/food; Gwinnett County Lumpkin County Family Connection: $5,000/food; Lumpkin County Madison County School District: $8,000/food and Wi-Fi for students; Madison County Mending the Gap: $3,000/food and household supplies for seniors; Gwinnett County New Path 1010: $8,857/food; Barrow County Norcross Meals on Wheels: $3,000/food and supplies for seniors; Gwinnett County North Gwinnett Cooperative: $20,000/food and prescription medications; Gwinnett County Salvation Army/Athens: $10,000/housing, shelter and food; Clarke, Madison and Oglethorpe counties Salvation Army/Gainesville: $5,000/housing, shelter and food; Hall, Jackson, Banks and Barrow counties Salvation Army/Lawrenceville: $5,000/food and housing; Gwinnett County St. Vincent de Paul Society/Winder: $10,000/rent, mortgage and food; Barrow County St. Vincent de Paul Society/Flowery Branch: $10,000/rent, mortgage and emergency housing; Hall, Jackson and Gwinnett counties St. Vincent de Paul Society/Gainesville: $10,000/housing, food, medication and transportation; Hall County St. Vincent de Paul Society/Jefferson, $10,000/rent, mortgage and emergency housing, Jackson County St. Vincent de Paul Society/Lawrenceville: $10,000/rent, mortgage and emergency housing, Gwinnett County United Way of Hall County: $10,000/rent, mortgage, food and basic needs; Hall County

TOTAL: $270,757

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

COMMUNITY GRANTS SCH E DU LE OF COM M U N ITY ASSISTANCE FOR TH E YEAR E N DE D MAY 31, 2020

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Annual Report

American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia

$ 10,000

American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia

15,000

Angel House of Georgia

10,000

Annandale of Suwanee

10,000

Athens Community Council on Aging

10,000

Athens Nurses Clinic

15,000

Atlanta Community Food Bank

15,000

Atlanta Community Food Bank

20,000

Atlanta Union Mission Corporation

10,000

Banks-Jackson Food Bank

5,000

Blue Heart Initiative

5,000

Books for Keeps

7,500

Boy Scouts of America - NEGA Council

15,000

Boy With a Ball Global

5,200

Boys & Girls Clubs of Athens

15,000

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier

14,800

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

20,000

Boys & Girls Clubs of Winder-Barrow

15,000

Center Point Georgia

14,750

Chess & Community Conference

10,000

Childkind

10,000

Chris 180

10,000

Commerce City Schools

3,600

Community Helping Place

5,000

Community Helping Place

7,500

Corners Outreach

10,000

Creative Enterprises

7,500

Cresswind LL Veterans, Inc.

2,500

Eagle Ranch

15,000

Elachee Nature Science Center

15,000

Eyes of Love Lighthouse Mission, Inc.

10,000

Families of Children Under Stress (FOCUS)

4,500

Family Promise of Athens (Interfaith Hospitality Network)

15,000

Family Promise of Hall County

5,332

Food Bank of Northeast Georgia

7,500

Food Bank of Northeast Georgia

10,000

For Her Glory

15,000

Foundation of Wesley Woods

5,000

Gainesville/Hall Community Food Pantry

2,500

Geekspace Gwinnett

7,650

Georgia Center for Civic Engagement

3,000

Georgia Mountain Food Bank

10,000

Georgia Mountains YMCA

15,000

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

6,000

Good News Clinics

7,500

Good News Clinics

10,000

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2020 Jackson EMC Foundation

Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett

$ 15,000

Gwinnett Student Leadership

15,000

H.O.P.E, Inc. (Helping Other People be Empowered)

5,000

Habitat for Humanity - Hall County

15,000

Habitat for Humanity - Madison County

15,000

Hall County Library System

10,000

Hall County Special Olympics

8,400

Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church Food Pantry

2,500

Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church Food Pantry

2,500

Happy Sacks (Duluth United Methodist Church)

1,000

Hebron Community Health Center (Truth’s Community Clinic)

15,000

Heirborn Servants, Inc.

5,000

Hi-Hope Service Center, Inc.

15,000

Homer United Methodist Church

2,500

Hope Clinic

15,000

I Am, Inc.

10,000

iServe Ministries

10,000

J.M. Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA

15,000

J.M. Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA

15,000

Jackson County School System

2,800

Jefferson City Schools

3,000

Jefferson Lions Club

7,304

Judy House Ministry

10,000

Junior Achievement of Georgia, Inc.

10,000

Just People

10,000

L.A.M.P. Ministries

15,000

Latin American Association

10,000

Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry

10,000

Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry

15,000

Lumpkin County Family Connection

4,000

Lumpkin County Family Connection

5,000

Madison County Health Department

4,500

Madison County School District

8,000

MedLink Georgia

13,600

Mending the Gap

3,000

Mending the Gap

10,000

Mosaic Georgia

15,000

(Formerly Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center and Children’s Advocacy Center) Muscular Dystrophy Association

5,000

New Path 1010

8,857

NOA’s Ark, Inc.

10,000

Norcross Cooperative Ministry

15,000

Norcross Meals on Wheels

3,000

Norcross Meals On Wheels

6,000

North Georgia Interfaith Ministries

4,875

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Annual Report

North Gwinnett Cooperative

$

7,500

North Gwinnett Cooperative

20,000

North Hall Lions Club

7,089

Nothing but the Truth, Inc.

15,000

NSPIRE Outreach Ministries

7,500

Our Neighbor, Inc.

10,000

Place of Seven Springs

9,500

Project Adam

7,500

Rainbow Village

15,000

Reins of Life, Inc.

2,319

Salvation Army - Athens

7,500

Salvation Army - Athens

10,000

Salvation Army - Gainesville

5,000

Salvation Army - Gainesville

7,500

Salvation Army - Lawrenceville

5,000

Salvation Army - Lawrenceville

7,500

Salvation Army - Toccoa

5,000

Sandy Creek Nature Center

12,000

Ser Familia

5,000

Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse

15,000

Sisu of Georgia

15,000

Spirit of Joy Food Pantry

2,500

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Flowery Branch

7,500

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Flowery Branch

10,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Gainesville

7,500

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Gainesville

10,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Jefferson

10,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Jefferson

12,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Lawrenceville (Gloster Road)

7,500

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Lawrenceville (Grayson Highway)

10,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Lawrenceville (Grayson Highway)

12,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Winder

10,000

St. Vincent de Paul Society - Winder

12,000

Sugar Hill United Methodist Church

2,500

The Tree House

15,000

Tiny Stitches

7,500

United Methodist Children’s Home - North Georgia Conference, Wellroot Family Services

10,000

United Way of Hall County

10,000

United Way of Northeast Georgia

15,000

University of North Georgia Foundation

10,000

$ 1,240,076

Denotes organizations that received an emergency grant.

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2020 Annual Report P.O. Box 38 | Jefferson, GA 30549 jacksonemc.com/foundation