The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded $125,426 in grants during its April meeting, including $61,951 to organizations serving area residents.

• Extra Special People in Watkinsville received $15,000 to help special needs or seriously ill children from low-income or financially distressed families in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Jackson and Madison counties attend an eight-week camp where they can explore nature, discover their own abilities, master new skills and make new friends.

• Camp Twin Lakes, a not-for-profit organization which offers year-round recreational, therapeutic and educational programs for children facing serious illness and other challenges, was given $12,500 to help children in Jackson EMC’s 10-county service area attend its state-of-the-art campsites.

• Spectrum Autism Support Group, a parent-run nonprofit in Suwanee that provides support, education and resources for the entire spectrum of autism disorders to families in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties, received $10,000 to help disadvantaged autistic people ages 4 to 22 attend the organization’s weeklong summer camp program to learn social skills.

• Young Women’s Christian Organization in Athens got $10,000 to help girls from low-income families attend Girls Club, a structured recreational and educational summer program targeting girls ages 5-14, and to help defray bus transportation expenses.

• Camp Kudzu, a year-round program for children with diabetes and their families that teaches diabetes management skills that will reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications and improve their attitude about living with the disease, received $8,000 to help children from the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC attend a one-week overnight summer camp.

• Good Samaritan Ministry of Northeast Georgia, a Gainesville nonprofit that provides food, clothing, furniture, job counseling and education assistance to those in need in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties, was given $3,500 to purchase food and personal hygiene items.

• Camp To Belong, a free summer camp that reunites siblings separated by foster care or other out-of-home care in order to strengthen relationships, increase self-esteem, create healthier attitudes and good memories, received $2,000 to help children in the 10 counties Jackson EMC serves attend.

• Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agencies received $951 to fund iPad apps and amplification for four itinerant teachers who serve nearly 100 students in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties who have hearing loss or cognitive and physical areas of need, to help them provide meaningful and engaging lessons.