2024 June JEMCO News

BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW TOGETHER

At Jackson EMC, we’re about the community. Giving back to the community we serve is truly a rewarding and enriching opportunity. Martin Luther King Jr. said it this way: “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve ... You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Our employees demonstrate this sort of passion for service daily by actively serving our members and volunteering locally. In just one month, our employees contributed 1,200 volunteer hours! Our employees partnered with local nonprofit organizations to make a meaningful impact. You may have seen them recently volunteering with the Special Olympics, packing bags with comfort items for children facing a crisis, helping to distribute food to families affected by cancer and more. The energy and teamwork were incredible. Before we knew it, we’d completed many of these projects ahead of schedule.

The community response was heartwarming. At Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville, our employees helped build 26 wooden benches from scratch and installed them in six locations along its trails. Those benches are now part of new outdoor classroom areas for students to explore and learn more about nature. On social media, Elachee Nature Science Center shared, “We are overflowing with gratitude for the time and talent of the Jackson EMC Community Cares Team. Your hard work will have an impact on the learning, discovery and connection here at Elachee for many years to come.”

Our volunteer efforts extend year-round. Our employees mentor students in local schools, assist food banks and serve at homeless shelters. Each act of service is driven by a genuine desire to help others and make a positive impact in the community.

And it’s not just our employees who make a difference. Through Operation Round Up, our members contribute to the Jackson EMC Foundation, which awards grants to local nonprofits

Be Storm Smart:

Stay Safe and Prepared

addressing needs in the community. Since 2005, the Jackson EMC Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to organizations and individuals in the 10 counties served by the cooperative.

Jackson EMC’s dedication to the community runs deep. From our employees’ commitment to volunteering locally to the steadfast support of our members through Operation Round Up, we’re honored to continue making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for our community.

Have a story to share about our employees volunteering in the community, share it with me at chip@jacksonemc.com.

CHIP JAKINS President & CEO

• Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food. Consider stocking food items like canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, water and other essentials, like diapers and toiletries.

• Double check your sanitation and hygiene supplies. Ensure you’re stocked up on toilet paper, soap and hand sanitizer.

• Keep a first-aid kit stocked. Make sure your kit includes bandages and other medical essentials, such as your current prescriptions.

• Organize emergency supplies. Set aside flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener, battery-powered radio and other essential household items.

• Keep devices fully charged. When severe weather is approaching, be sure you stay informed with updates from local news sources.

To report a power outage, use the MyJacksonEMC mobile app, visit outage.jacksonemc.com or call 1-800-245-4044

JACKSON EMC LINEMEN at GEORGIA LINEMAN'S RODEO SHINE

Apprentices and journeyman teams compete in the hurtman rescue and pole climb events as well as two mystery events revealed the day before the competition. Apprentices also complete a written test as a part of their overall scores. Competitors are scored on skill and speed for completing tasks for each event.

The top performers from Jackson EMC will represent the electric cooperative at the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas in October.

Jackson EMC linemen placed among the top at the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo, which draws linemen from across the state to compete in a series of events in traditional lineman skills and tasks.

Top awards for the cooperative included two senior teams placing in the top three in the senior division, two journeyman teams placing in the top 10 for teams and an apprentice lineman placing in the top 10 for apprentices.

Jackson EMC sent 14 apprentices and 8 journeyman teams to the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo, which was held May 6 in Fort Valley, Ga. Apprentices compete as individuals, while journeymen compete in teams of three.

Apprentices:

• Harry Ruiz placed second in the hurtman rescue event.

• Shawn Thurston placed second in the insulator changeout event.

• Aaron Krumenacker placed third in the hurtman rescue event.

Journeyman Teams:

• Jose Rodriguez, Matt Tolar and Austin Yearwood placed fourth overall in the journeyman teams.

• Kaleb Chapman, Justin Roper and Jonathan Woodring placed first in the mystery event #2- antenna sensor changeout.

• Justin Cash, Austin Gragg and Devin Triplett placed second in the hurtman rescue event.

Senior Teams:

• A senior journeyman team with Daryll Bond, Jason Bond and Kevin Waters placed first place overall in the senior division.

• A senior journeyman team with Kevin Grant, Brett Hurst and Scotty Tompkins placed third overall in the senior division.

Giving Back to Make a Difference

254 Jackson EMC employees:

• Contributed 1,200 volunteer hours in the community to 15 local organizations for 26 projects

• Wrote 620 cards of encouragement for military personnel and senior citizens

• Packaged 1,240 food boxes and bags for families with food insecurity

• Completed 10 blankets for people who are unhoused

• Built 26 benches for outdoor environmental education

Along with living and working in the community, our employees enjoy volunteering with local organizations. Jackson EMC employees generously gave their time and energy to make a difference during our April month of service.

Streetwise Georgia: Preparing 270 food boxes and bags with fresh produce, meats, breads and pastries for its mobile food pantry.

St. Vincent de Paul: Organizing donations at the Commerce location thrift store that serves people in need.

Family Promise of Gwinnett County: Improving landscaping for its shelter in Lawrenceville.

Special Olympics: Cheering on competitors from Commerce City, Jefferson City and Jackson County school systems, tracking results and awarding ribbons.

Mending the Gap and Operation Gratitude: Writing encouraging cards for active-duty military personnel and senior citizens.

Adventure Bags: Packing backpacks filled with overnight essentials and comfort items to assist children in crisis during traumatic events.

The Cancer Foundation: Sharing pre-packaged grocery boxes during a mobile food pantry for patients with cancer who are struggling with the high cost of cancer treatment.

iServe Ministries: Packing backpacks with food given to local students in need.

Elachee Nature Science Center: Building and installing benches to support the nature center's outdoor education center.

$145,000 IN GRANTS RECENTLY AWARDED

The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors recently awarded a total of $145,000 in grants, including $140,000 to organizations and $5,000 to an individual.

Organizational Grant Recipients:

$15,000 to Camp Koinonia , Homer, to provide 39 underprivileged third through eighth grade Banks County students referred by Family Connection and DFACS with a five-day camping experience that uses positive learning experiences to establish strong character, leadership and teambuilding skills, and build personal relationships.

$15,000 to Camp Kudzu , to support 25-30 campers in a program for children and teens with diabetes who live in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC to attend a weeklong overnight summer camp.

$15,000 to Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia , Suwanee, for its Opportunities Academy Program to educate rising 10th and 11th grade students in Gwinnett County Public Schools in medicine, health and behavioral sciences.

$15,000 to University of North Georgia Foundation, Inc. , for its Steps to College Program, which provides summer high school courses for English learners throughout Jackson EMC’s service area to earn credit toward graduation.

$15,000 to Rachel’s Gift, Inc. , an organization providing specialized bereavement care for parents who have lost a child to miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death, for its pregnancy and infant loss grief support program in all counties served by Jackson EMC.

$15,000 to Spectrum Autism Support Group, Inc. , Suwanee, a parent-run nonprofit group that provides Gwinnett and Hall county families with support, education and resources to help disadvantaged autistic individuals ages four to 22 attend its weeklong summer camp program, with daily activities that teach social skills.

Community Impact:

$15,000 to YMCA of Athens, Inc. , to help enable children in Clarke, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties to participate in its nine-week summer day camp program, which offers supervised sports and other activities, as well as teaches math, reading and values.

$10,000 to Camp Amplify, Winder, to provide 15 children ages seven to 12 from underserved communities in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties with a weeklong camping experience to develop character, leadership and teambuilding skills through a high adventure, overnight camp.

$10,000 to MUST Ministries, Inc. , for its summer lunch program, which provides breakfast and lunch to needy children in Gwinnett County five days per week for nine weeks.

$10,000 to Quinlan Visual Arts, Inc. , Gainesville, to provide for free or reduced-cost participation in its summer arts program for 120 students in underserved communities in Banks, Barrow, Hall, Gwinnett, Jackson and Lumpkin counties.

$5,000 to Foster Siblings Reunited (formerly Camp to Belong) to enable children in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC to attend summer camp and family camp weekend, which reunites siblings living separately in foster care or other out-of-home care to strengthen relationships, increase self-esteem, create healthier attitudes and childhood memories.

Individual Recipients:

$5,000 to a woman in Barrow County to replace her HVAC unit.

Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett

Good Samaritan Health Centers (Good Sam Gwinnett) provide full-time charitable medical and dental services to uninsured and underinsured residents in Gwinnett County. Since opening its doors in 2005, the nonprofit has served thousands of patients, resulting in a fair amount of wear and tear to its furniture.

Good Sam Gwinnett was able to purchase new exam tables and stools for its women’s health initiative thanks to a recent $12,129 Jackson EMC Foundation grant. The furniture was initially acquired for their Women’s Health Initiative but will benefit all patients visiting a Good Sam Gwinnett provider.

“We are very thankful because we originally thought we’d only be able to purchase six tables, but with the grant, we will actually be able to purchase seven tables,” said Cheryl Haire, grant manager for Good Sam Gwinnett. “These will help us continue to serve the community.”

In-need individuals can call the Gwinnett West Clinic at 678-280-6630 or the Gwinnett East Clinic AT 770-806-0162

Summer Energy Savings Made Easy

When temperatures rise in the summer, you can be smart about how to save energy in your home.

Set your thermostat to 78 degrees. Your HVAC operating costs rise approximately 5% for every degree below 78 degrees.

Use curtains and blinds. Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest times of the day to block out sunlight and heat. This helps your HVAC cool your home more efficiently.

Use fans wisely. Ceiling fans are a great way to feel cooler. Use them to supplement your air conditioning.

Check your HVAC unit. Make sure your air conditioning system operates at peak performance by having a qualified professional inspect it.

The Road to EV Ownership

Interested in buying an electric vehicle, but don’t know where to start? Jackson EMC can help you navigate the road to EV ownership.

1. Start with your driving needs. Calculate your daily miles and desired towing capacity. Identifying your goals for owning an EV is an important first step to start your journey.

2. Explore EV models. Go to jacksonemc.com/EV to compare EVs by vehicle model and manufacturer, type, range and battery capacity per charge and price range. Our site makes it easy to learn and select vehicles that meet your needs.

3. Calculate your potential savings. If you're interested in learning about fuel savings with an EV, our site allows you to compare costs between gas and electric vehicles by make and model.

FOR MORE ENERGY-SAVING TIPS, VISIT JACKSONEMC.COM/WAYSTOSAVE OR SCAN THE QR CODE: FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JACKSONEMC.COM/EV OR SCAN THE QR CODE :

4. Save on EV chargers. Jackson EMC offers a $250 rebate for residential Level 2 EV fast chargers. You can buy an EV fast charger at jacksonemcmarketplace.com or apply for a rebate at jacksonemc.com/EV.

5. Call us for help. Need more information? We can help answer your questions. Call us at 1-800-462-3691.

YOUR POWER. YOUR COMMUNITY. 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

Peach Cobbler

PERIODICALS

POSTAGE PAID

jacksonemc.com

INGREDIENTS: stick (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine cup granulated sugar tsp. baking powder 1 1 1½ ½ 1 3

My mother, who lived to be 98, made this recipe a lot for Sunday brunch with friends. It’s very easy to whip up. She was an identical twin and she made cakes and her twin made pies. I used to make this with fresh peaches from a tree in our yard, but the squirrels started beating me to the peaches. cup full fat milk cup all-purpose flour cups freshly sliced peaches

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the butter, baking powder, milk, flour and 1/2 cup sugar to make a medium-thick batter. Place peaches in a 10x13 baking dish. Add a ½ cup sugar to fresh fruit. Pour batter over fruit. Bake for 40 minutes or until the top is browned. Pears or blueberries can be substituted for peaches. Canned fruit can be used, but do not add sugar.

ARECIPESFEATUREDRECEIVE PRIZE PACKAGE WITH AN AIR FRYER & GOODIES.KITCHEN “

JANET DAVIDSON, Hull

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