The Okefenoke REMC Foundation is pleased to announce grants totaling more than $37,800 were awarded to 11 organizations in the second quarter of 2023.

• Baker County Education Foundation, $2,500 for Shoes from Brayden. Helping students with basic needs—a pair of shoes—honors the life of former Baker County District Nurse & Wellness Coordinator Julia Rhoden’s, BSN, RN, son who died at four years old. One brand new pair of shoes given to a child in need has developed into a district-wide program to help students and families.  OREMC Board President Wayne Combs (center) and OREMC Foundation Trustee Tina Mobley (right) presented the grant to the Baker County Education Foundation. Accepting were (l-r) Director of Health Services Tina Bradley, Executive Director Robin Mobley and Director of Teaching & Learning Allen Murphy.

• Bring Your Brokenness, Inc., $4,400 for safety and security at Charis House.  As a residential treatment facility dedicated to eating disorder recovery, the safety and security of residents and staff accessing the property 24/7 is paramount. The grant was presented by OREMC Foundation Vice President Ramona Jones to Charis House Founder Amie Shields, and Millie Rose, to support the security enhancements. 

• Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber Foundation, $3,500 to support the Connect Glynn Educator Externship Academy. The goal is to help improve workforce development by connecting educators with business and industry professionals to better understand the skills/education/experience necessary to support future employability. Okefenoke REMC participated in the program last year as a host business. OREMC Foundation Treasurer Shallen Crum presented the grant to Chamber Foundation CEO Danielle Lewis and Board Chair Myrick Stubbs. 

• End Time Gospel Assembly, Inc., $2,500 to support necessary electrical work in order to occupy a building as transitional housing dormitory. The ministry provides assistance to individuals needing “a hand up” to achieve long-term self -sufficiency. It also offers outreach and education, mentoring and a client prepared community meal every Sunday. OREMC Foundation Secretary Sonya Walker presented the grant to Pastor James Ham. 

• Macclenny Moose Lodge 2412, $1,500 to support community outreach events. The Moose host several events throughout the year to promote community and support families in need, Veterans and senior citizens. Lodge President Buddy Dugger accepted the grant presented by OREMC Board President Wayne Combs and OREMC Foundation Trustee Tina Mobley. 

• Church Girls Inc., $5,000 to support the Bridge the Gap program. With offices in Kingsland, and now Folkston, Church Girls provides aid to families living under the poverty threshold with rental assistance, a Blessing Room Boutique for families’ clothing and essential needs and a Resource Room with access to the internet and assistance in connecting with support services, jobs and housing. OREMC Foundation Trustee Carolyn Strickland presented the grant to Church Girls CEO Deondra Lightfoot and Director Ashley Gibbs. The new Folkston location offers walk-in services Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kingsland is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information call 912-729-1427. 

• Golden Isles Veterans Village, $5,000 for 30 mattresses for the tiny homes. The Veterans Village program is a transitional community to assist homeless veterans re-enter society as productive, independent self-supporting citizens. The Village is a community of 30 tiny homes and a community center for veterans to gather, support and learn from one another and receive necessary support services. OREMC Foundation Treasurer Shallen Crum presented the grant to Village Board President Lorene Reid and Grants Chair Jim Kielt. 

• Ravens of Elijah Food Ministries, Inc., $3,000 to support weekly food distributions for food-insecure families. What began in 2009 out of a home kitchen has expanded to a new location off Scrubby Bluff Rd. with food distributions three days a week providing supplemental food to 700 families in Camden and Charlton counties. Happy to accept the grant from OREMC Foundation Secretary Sonya Walker were (l-r) Volunteers Virgil Hagag, Amy Kelly, Berta Cotton, Hazel Thomas, Yvonne Trescastro, Paula Johnston, Glenn Roberts, Founder Odie Holland and President Carl Holland. 

• Safe Harbor Children’s Center, $5,000 to support Coordinated Entry Services and Family Preservation Services. An accredited organization that promotes security and stability for at-risk families, children and individuals—abused, abandoned or neglected who are homeless, have run away or feel threatened—by offering a place of safety, health and hope. OREMC Foundation Treasurer Shallen Crum presented the grant to Safe Harbor staff (l-r) Alician Black, Program Director, Family Preservation; Leslie Hartman, LPC, Executive Director; Miranda Vogt, Assistant Director of Development & Marketing; Morgan Marshall, Assistant Director, Street Outreach; and Chelsea Parker, Program Director, Zach’s Place. 

• Saltwater Performing Arts, $3,000 for production licenses. An award-winning program, Saltwater Performing Arts provides performing arts education outreach through educational programming, technical skill development and performance. Children’s participation in music and art supports speech, cognitive and motor development and socialization to promote academic and emotional growth. They will celebrate their 10th season beginning in August, which the grant will help support the purchase of the Broadway production license for their final show. Gleefully accepting the grant from OREMC Foundation Secretary Sonya Walker were (l-r) Pat Chiarelli, Assistant Grant Writer and Theater Administrator Jan Shiff. 

• The Coastal Symphony of Georgia Inc., $2,400 for Musical Mentors program. Musical Mentors is a program connecting guest artists with schools to enhance music education. Guest artists visit elementary, middle and high students to demonstrate, describe and discuss musical instruments, provide master classes and/or teach music composition. Funds are to support programing in the 2023/24 school year at Glynn County schools.  OREMC Foundation Treasurer Shallen Crumb presented the grant to the Symphony’s Vice President Leslie Graitcer and President Kern Baker. 

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, July 7, 2023. Applications and information are available online at oremc.com/foundation.