The Okefenoke REMC Foundation wrapped up its final granting period of 2022 by making spirits bright with grant awards for 10 organizations totaling $37,400. The recipients are:

• America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Inc., $2,500: Funds were awarded to support the Mobile Food Pantry, a refrigerated truck that delivers food directly to neighborhoods sites in Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Ware and Wayne counties. The monies will help provide one delivery per quarter, per county helping to serve 12,000 households.
• Baker County, Florida, 4-H Association, $3,000: Supporting STEM and agricultural education through the Embryology School Enrichment Program. For 21 days students will learn about the life cycle by hatching and caring for chicks in their classroom through hands-on and observational learning.
• Bethesda Recovery (Waycross), $2,500: A residential treatment center for women undergoing substance abuse treatment, the funds will be used to aid in medication costs supporting basic health needs that foster long-term recovery. It serves women in Ware, Pierce and Brantley counties locally.
• Brantley County FFA Alumni, $5,000: To aid in the purchase of a trailer for the Brantley County FFA Livestock Show Team. The trailer will be used to haul show supplies and equipment to shows outside the county, supporting the 500 FFA students in the middle and high school chapters, and reducing a financial barrier to participation for individual families.
• Camden County 4-H, $2,400: Supporting Project Achievement, a youth development program focusing on agriculture, STEM, healthy living and civic engagement for students in grades four through 12. Through a self-directed portfolio project, students build on skills needed for college and/or career success.
• Coastal Re-Entry and Veterans Coalition, Inc. (Woodbine), $5,000: To aid in repairs and weatherization of a house for individuals transitioning back into society and supporting them with training and life skills coaching to become productive members in our communities.
• GFWC Georgia Woodbine Woman’s Club, Inc., $4,000: Supporting the Community Jazz and Arts Festival, a community enrichment event aimed at engaging children through art and music performances and participation.
• Make-A-Wish foundation of Georgia, Inc., $5,000: To help support granting wishes to four children facing life-threatening conditions who live in the OREMC service area.
• Georgia Transplant Foundation, Inc., $5,000: Supporting the Pediatric Assistance Program by helping to bridge the gap to equitable access to care for pediatric patients residing in Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Ware and Wayne counties.
• St. Marks Towers (Brunswick), $3,000: Supporting the transportation program and bus maintenance facilitating residents access to shopping, health care, volunteer opportunities and promote public safety of the community at large

OREMC Foundation President Ruby Ann Sawyer states, “We as trustees continue to be amazed at the work being done, and the dedication of the people doing to work, at so many different organizations across our service area. We are honored to play just a small part in helping to make a difference with these grant awards.”

The OREMC Foundation is a launchpad for community development supporting education, community health and economic development in the six Georgia and two Florida counties OREMC serves. Currently, OREMC unclaimed capital credits are the primary funding source. The Foundation Trustees meet quarterly to review applications and make grant awards based on funds available.

The next grant application deadline is Friday, January 6, 2023. Applications and information are available online at oremc.com/foundation.