General Mills’ Covington Plant Manager Mark Bible told a crowded room Tuesday that last Thursday shouldn’t be the only day marked on the calendar to give thanks.
“So many in our society don’t believe they have something to be grateful for,” he said to the group of non-profit representatives. “But they have a lot to give thanks for. You angels are able to make that possible.”
The theme of helping others and being grateful for the work done by the dozens of people in the Covington plant’s meeting room carried through the rest of the General Mills Community Partnership Council Grant Awards Reception.
General Mills gave out a total of $200,000 in grant money to 21 organizations in Newton, Walton, Rockdale and Morgan counties.
“The whole line on the ‘for’ section [of a presentation check for the $200,000 from General Mills] that says ‘nourishing lives in our community’ is great,” said Brandy Burch of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. How perfect is that for General Mills. They not only nourish our tummies, but our hearts, mind and spirit.”
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office is one of the organizations which will use its allocation of the grant money for local programs, such as CHAMPS and its explorer program. The Covington Family YMCA will use its money to help after school programs, sports and youth camps, and other programs will use funds to continue or extend its programs in the community.
“This wonderful group at General Mills has enabled us to not only survive this economy but thrive,” said Diane Howington of Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale County.
The groups that received funds through the General Mills grants were the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, Boys & Girls Club of North Central Georgia, Camp Twin Lakes, Community Arts Association in Newton County, Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts, Elks Aidmore, Faith in Serving Humanity, Inc., Family Promise of New Rock, Harvest of the Heart, JH House Elementary School, Morgan County Foundation, Newton County Community Partnership, Newton County School System, Newton County Senior Services, Newton County Sheriff’s Department, Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale County, Project Renewal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Rainbow Community Center, Walton County Senior Citizens Council, Washington Street Community Center and YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta.
The grant recipients were selected by General Mills’ Covington Plant’s Community Partnership Council consisting of: Mark Bible, Val Mack, Lisa Creech, Melva Holt, John Hines, Greg Joyner, Larry Kehoe, Eric Morgan, Karen Morgan, Todd Roberts, Naomi Johnson, Mike Short, Alan Small, Michelle Stegall and Marcel James.
