TOGETHER AT THE TABLE
Southerners like a good potluck dinner. The idea is simple: Everyone contributes something – like your grandma’s favorite casserole or your best dessert — and together, those contributions create a meal that’s more than just food. Potlucks are also about community — coming together as friends, family, coworkers or community groups.
For many years, the Jackson EMC Foundation has been awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations making a real difference in our community. The grants have funded a variety of services, like food pantries, emergency housing shelters, health clinics, youth programs and more.
This year, the Jackson EMC Foundation took on a new role that’s best described as the host of a potluck.
Through a partnership with the Wellbeing Project, the Jackson EMC Foundation developed the Northeast Georgia Community Needs Assessment – a research-based report that provides county-specific information on health,
education, housing, community engagement, safety and more. The data from the report could be used by local nonprofits to create programs that best serve people in our service area.
To share the report, the Jackson EMC Foundation hosted several meetings, inviting community leaders to sit down together to learn about and discuss the findings. We were impressed to see hundreds of leaders eager to join these conversations.
Leaders from various sectors came together to discuss how the information could help them better serve people in need. Just like at a potluck, each organization brought something valuable to the table – whether that was food assistance, healthcare, housing or education.
More than just sharing ideas; they also explored how to combine their resources for greater impact. By working together and pooling their expertise, they can offer more comprehensive solutions to the challenges we face.
One of the best parts of a potluck is the sense of connection it fosters. Likewise, many of the community leaders at these meetings enjoyed the company of new friends who have a passion to serve others. Working together, they can create stronger connections that benefit everyone involved.
“Concern for Community” is one of the principles that cooperatives, like Jackson EMC, follow. We hope that by bringing community groups together at the table, there will be some exciting partnerships and opportunities in the near future!
Have a story to share about how a Jackson EMC Foundation grant helped the community? Email me at chip@jacksonemc.com.
CHIP JAKINS President & CEO
Hill to Succeed Retiring Board Member Steele
Chuck Steele is retiring from the Jackson EMC Board of Directors after 26 years of service. He joined the Jackson EMC board in 1998. He is succeeded by Alex Hill, who is well known in Barrow County for his business leadership.
Chuck is retired from IBM and a veteran of the US Air Force. A farmer and leader in the poultry industry, he is known throughout Barrow County as a champion for agribusiness.
“Chuck’s experience and connection to the community made him a tremendous asset to the cooperative,” said Jackson EMC Board Chairman Rodney Chandler. “His deep knowledge of the agribusiness industry, concern for the members, and knowledge of the local community delivered with his thoughtfulness, diligence, and Christian devotion, played a key role in Jackson EMC’s efforts to deliver exceptional service to our community and employees.”
Alex Hill is a lifelong resident of Barrow County, where he is president and CEO of Hill’s Ace Hardware Building Supply. An active member of the community, he is a member of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, where he previously served as chair. He is past chair of the Construction Suppliers Association and serves on the Barrow County Builders Association Board of Directors. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in business administration.
He and his wife Amanda have two children and attend First United Methodist.
“Alex has the skills and expertise necessary to be an effective board member for Jackson EMC. He cares about the community and understands what it takes to deliver exceptional service. His community connections, board service and business knowledge make him highly qualified and an excellent choice for Jackson EMC,” said Chandler.
STRENGTH IN UNITY Cooperatives Come Together After
Hurricane Helene
“Cooperation among cooperatives” is a core principle of co-ops, like Jackson EMC, and the response from Hurricane Helene demonstrated the power of this value in action.
The powerful storm hit our area on September 27, affecting a total of 55,000 members. All members had their power restored within two days, thanks to the support of additional crews from Alabama, Texas and Kentucky, who joined Jackson EMC personnel to create a workforce of more than 625 focused on restoration efforts.
Once power was restored to Jackson EMC members, 78 employees headed to co-ops in central and east Georgia to restore power. This wave of support sent skilled team members to Rayle EMC, Washington EMC and Jefferson Energy Cooperative, areas facing severe outages due to storm damage.
“This storm has been one of the most challenging we’ve faced in Georgia, and while we were fortunate to avoid its full impact, we are fully committed to supporting our fellow cooperatives as they work to restore power.”
TOMMY PARKER Jackson EMC’s Vice President of Operations
The deployed Jackson EMC crew included linemen, mechanics and safety personnel. Jefferson Energy Cooperative, one of the hardest-hit areas, reported at one point that 100% of its members were without power. By collaborating with co-ops across state lines, Jackson EMC reinforced the cooperative spirit, making it possible to restore power safely and efficiently to get communities back on their feet.
Damage throughout Jackson EMC’s service area included many downed trees that resulted in broken poles.
Gov. Brian Kemp shared this photo (shown on cover) taken by Jackson EMC line foreman Eddie Wood of lineman Cole Smith helping to restore power after Hurricane Helene.
Jackson EMC lineman Tyler Ashe takes to water to help restore power for Jefferson Energy Cooperative members. Jackson EMC crews were among the many linemen from around the country who helped restore power after Hurricane Helene.
2024 COMMUNITY IMPACT
1,616
youth directly impacted through programs, such as camp experiences, education, mentoring and after-school and extracurricular activities
Your Generosity Shines
$1.3 Million
Donated Through Operation Round Up©
Thanks to your incredible generosity, Operation Round Up© continues to make a lasting impact in our community. Through your contributions, the Jackson EMC Foundation has awarded grants that change lives.
Since its founding, the Jackson EMC Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $21 million to organizations and individuals in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC.
This year alone, member donations totaled more than $1.3 million. Those funds help support local food banks, community health clinics, youth development, emergency shelters and more.
These are just some of the examples of your generosity to Operation Round Up making a difference in the community this year:
3,420 books purchased for children
495
adults provided with educational training and services, such as ESL classes, literacy programs, higher education training and GED support
477 smoke alarms for residents
2,543 mental health and counseling sessions
300
autism sensory kits for first responders and other organizations to give to individuals with autism in times of crisis
161
people supported through addiction recovery programs
374,687
meals served to children and families through local feeding programs
3
Habitat for Humanity homes supported for families in need
11 individuals receiving support
Any individual or organization in the counties served by Jackson EMC may apply for a Jackson EMC Foundation grant. Local community leaders serve on the Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors to review and award grants.
For more information about the Jackson EMC Foundation, including how to apply for a grant, visit jacksonemc.com/foundation.
UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS
Jackson EMC serves members across 10 counties in Northeast Georgia, each with unique challenges and opportunities. As a member-owned cooperative, "commitment to community" is a core principle of Jackson EMC. The Northeast Georgia Community Needs Assessment, developed through a partnership between the Jackson EMC Foundation and the Wellbeing Project is an initiative that supports positive change. The initiative gathered and organized data from multiple local, state, and national sources by county and topic to gather insights and better understand the needs and priorities of our community. The Jackson EMC Foundation is dedicated to addressing critical community needs within our service area.
This research assists the Foundation in providing impactful support to organizations that benefit the
community. The assessment offers insight into each county and highlights key areas where we can make a positive impact, including education, food insecurity and food assistance, healthcare access, housing, maternal health and substance use.
To share the findings, the Jackson EMC Foundation hosted a series of engaging collaborative discussions with more than 300 community leaders, citizens, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders. These discussions fostered new partnerships, programs and resource development.
These resources are available to you. Scan the QR code to access the Northeast Georgia Needs Assessment:
Easy Fall Cake Cookies
INGREDIENTS: spice cake box mix cup butter egg 1 1/3 1
DIRECTIONS:
cup water cup pecans cup dried cranberries 1/8 1/2 1/4
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll into 1-inch balls and bake in a 375-degree oven for 10 minutes.
VARIATIONS:
Create variations using white cake mix with chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips or chocolate cake mix with mini marshmallows and nuts.
“This is an easy and fun recipe to make with kids. They can be very creative with this recipe, coming up with different combinations."
— LAURA KENT, NICHOLSON
OPERATION ROUND UP ® : YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK
$137,000 IN GRANTS RECENTLY AWARDED
The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors recently approved grants totaling $137,000 for organizations.
Organizational Grant Recipients:
$20,000 to the Cancer Foundation, Athens, for its Financial Assistance Program that assists eligible cancer patients in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe counties with rent and mortgage assistance.
$15,000 to Adventure Bags, Inc., Winder, for its One Bag at a Time Program, to create comfort bags and distribute to displaced children through local DFCS offices, domestic violence shelters, fire departments, group homes and children’s shelters in Barrow, Banks, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
$15,000 to Family Promise of Athens, Inc., a community effort to end the cycle of family homelessness, for its Homeless Shelter and Stabilization Program to provide emergency shelter and vital services for families with children experiencing homelessness in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties.
$15,000 to Family Promise of Gwinnett, Inc., which provides shelter, meals and support services to families without homes in Gwinnett County through a network of local congregations for its Promise Haven Shelter Program.
$15,000 to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Athens, for its Food Access Initiative Program, which serves residents in Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties.
$15,000 to the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, Inc., Gainesville, to purchase fresh produce boxes for residents in Hall and Lumpkin counties.
$12,000 to Neighborhood Meals on Wheels, Inc., Norcross, for a walk-in refrigerator and freezer to store food that will be served to senior adults in Gwinnett County.
$10,000 to the Hall-Dawson CASA Program, Inc., Gainesville, which provides trained and supervised volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children requiring court intervention for its volunteer training and technology upgrades.
$10,000 to the South Hall Community Food Pantry, Oakwood, to purchase food for its food pantry program.
$7,500 to Athens-Oconee CASA, a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides advocacy for approximately 300 children in foster care in Clarke and Oconee counties for its volunteer training program.
$2,500 to Cornerstone Assembly of God (previously Spirit of Joy Food Bank), Oakwood, for its food pantry program to purchase a commercial refrigerator.
Jackson EMC Linemen Named Among the Best at International Lineman’s Rodeo
Two Jackson EMC journeyman lineman teams ranked among the best at the 40th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas on October 19. The competition includes more than 1,300 lineworkers who were judged on speed, agility, technique and safety procedures.
Jackson EMC sent three journeyman lineman teams and six apprentices to the international competition. A total of 227 journeymen lineman teams and 380 apprentices competed at the event. Apprentices compete as individuals, while journeymen compete in teams of three. The International Lineman’s Rodeo includes participants from electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, contractors and electric providers for the military.
A Jackson EMC journeyman team finished first in the senior division. Daryll Bond, Jason Bond and Kevin Waters, of Neese and Jefferson, earned the highest placement in this division at the competition.
A journeyman lineman team with Justin Cash, Austin Gragg and Devin Triplett , all of Jefferson, finished third in the electric cooperative division and sixth overall.
Apprentices Jerry Olivas, of Oakwood, finished eighth and Ben Adams, of Jefferson, finished 10th in the squirrel removal event.
A PUBLICATION FOR JACKSON EMC MEMBERS
JACKSON EMC OFFICES 1000 Dawsonville Highway Gainesville, GA (770) 536-2415
85 Spratlin Mill Road Hull, GA (706) 548-5362
850 Commerce Road Jefferson, GA (706) 367-5281
825 Buford Dr Lawrenceville, GA (770) 963-6166
EMC SECURITY
55 Satellite Blvd., NW Suwanee, GA (770) 963-0305 or (706) 543-4009
jacksonemc.com YOUR POWER. YOUR COMMUNITY.
EV FAST CHARGERS
AVAILABLE AT JACKSON EMC OFFICES
Jackson EMC members can charge their electric vehicles faster at a discounted rate using EV fast chargers available at the cooperative’s local offices. These chargers are part of the ChargePoint network and provide quicker charging than at-home Level 2 chargers.
“We’re committed to providing options for members who want to drive an EV or are considering purchasing an electric vehicle,” said Christy Queen, Jackson EMC’s director of residential marketing. “Even if you have home charging, these local fast chargers give members a reliable option.”
EV fast charging stations are available at Jackson EMC’s offices in Lawrenceville, Gainesville, Oakwood and Neese. An additional EV charger will be coming to the office in Jefferson in 2025. Members with a discount code pay $0.15/kWh for charging. The non-member cost to the public is $0.30/kWh.
TO ACCESS AND USE THE DISCOUNT CODE:
1. Login to your MyJacksonEMC account on the website or mobile app
2. Go to Notifications
3. A code is provided under “Information on EV Charging”
4. At a Jackson EMC EV charging station, follow the instructions to provide your name and account number
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