The General Mills Community Partnership Council presented $200,000 in grants to nonprofit community agencies in Newton, Rockdale and surrounding counties Friday.

The annual awards reception, held at the General Mills Covington plant recognized and awarded grants to 25 organizations for their contributions to the community.

Groups discussed how grant funding from General Mills would support their programs and their missions. Some of the programs provide hot meals to the needy, physical fitness programs for youths and aid to families.

Though the reception was designed to spotlight the organizations, many of their representatives thanked General Mills for its contributions, and said these remain hard economic times for the organizations.

Newton County Senior Services director Josephine Brown and Freda Reed, activities director, even presented the company with a quilt handmade by seniors at the center, and read a poem expressing their gratitude.

A luncheon was held after the ceremony.

Mark Bible, General Mills plant manager, said the company’s’ mission is to nourish lives through the convenience of its foods, the health benefits of its products, and involvement in the community.

"This is an example of us supporting and being heavily involved in our community, and a lot of you have been sitting here for years and are well aware of that," Bible said.

"I will tell you that in response to the needs of the community that have continued to grow, we made a request to our foundation in Minneapaolis for more funds, and we actually got $20,000 more this year. So the company responded, and we’re blessed to be able to do that this year. "

Grant recipients for this year’s program were as follows:

The American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter; Boys and Girls Club of North Central Georgia; Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta; Camp Twin Lakes; Community Arts Association in Newton County; Cousins Middle School; Conyers-Rockdale Council for the Arts; Elks Aidmore Children’s Center; Faith in Serving Humanity; Family Promise of New Rock; J.H. House Elementary School; Morgan County Foundation; Newton County Community Partnership; Newton County School System, Newton County Senior Services, Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale, Project Renewal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Rainbow Community Center, the Rockdale Emergency Relief Fund, Servants of the Lord Meals on Wheels , Walton County Senior Citizens Council, Washington Street Community Center, West Newton Elementary School, and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta.