By allowing their electric bills to be rounded to the next dollar, participating Walton EMC members have combined their pocket change to once again make a big difference in the lives of deserving individuals and groups in local communities. The volunteer board of Walton Electric Trust investigated and approved these applications for assistance at their last meeting:

• An Oconee County single parent raising three children encountered excessive medical bills from a broken leg. The fracture occurred while the man was helping a friend move. His is receiving funds toward two month's household expenses.
• A Walton County family is being assisted with funds to buy furniture after their home was destroyed by fire.
• A Walton County husband and wife who are both currently unemployed are being helped with one month's household expenses.
• An elderly Morgan County woman is being helped to pay a medical bill. Her husband also suffers from cancer.
• A disabled Rockdale County single parent is getting funds to go toward one month's household expenses.
• A Walton County woman who cannot afford health insurance is receiving assistance with needed medical tests.
• A disabled Gwinnett County man is being helped with household expenses after he lost his Veteran's Administration pension. The pension was stopped because he had taken a small job to get health insurance for his wife.
• A disabled Walton County man is receiving funds toward purchasing an air conditioning system for his home.
• The Chron's and Colitis Foundation has been awarded $2,500 to help fund Camp Colitiscope, a summer camp for children affected by this disease.
• The Morgan County Department of Family and Children's Services is receiving $3,000 for their programs serving emergency needs of the elderly, foster children and child protection medical expenses.
• The Georgia Baptist Developmental Disabilities Ministries is being helped with $1,000 to replace vans because of insurance requirements.
• Gwinnett County Skywarn has been awarded $1,000 to fund equipment purchases. This group of amateur radio operators assists the National Weather Service by providing real-time observations of severe weather.
• The Dream House for Medically Fragile Children is receiving $5,000 for an addition to their facilities. The house provides a safe, loving environment for medically fragile children whose families won't or can't take care of them.
• Walton County Fire Department Station 9 is being helped with $2,000 to buy communications equipment for their station.

Established in 1936, Walton EMC is a consumer-owned electric company with 100,000 accounts in ten Northeast Georgia counties between Atlanta and Athens.

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