Effingham County’s Family Connections and Communities in Schools awarded three $500 grants to local organizations.

The group gives mini-grants out of funds from the United Way to eligible Effingham County organizations to support their efforts in serving the community. This quarter’s mini-grants went to the Why Try Behavior Program at Guyton Elementary School, the Family Support Program at the Department of Family and Children Services and to the Read Aloud Club at Ebenezer Elementary School.

Beth Kight, principal of Ebenezer Elementary, said the Real Aloud Club is a reading incentive program for kindergarten and first graders and that students read library books at home, with the parent, or to the parent and record the books on a reading log. The grant money will be used to purchase more books for the program.

Krissie Calvert, who runs the Why Try program for Guyton Elementary School, said this is a behavior program developed for helping kids be the best they can be, despite challenges they might have. She said the grant money will be used to purchase materials for the 10-week activity program.

JoAnna Greenway of DFCS won the grant for its Family Support Program, also called Family Preservation. Greenway said the program provides services that may be needed by families following investigations. Services can include counseling, drug assessments and treatment, parenting and more. The mini grant funds will be used to access those services.

To be eligible to apply for these mini grants ($500 maximum), the organization must be a 501c3 not for profit agency. They are awarded quarterly through 2010 funds permitting. The next due date for applications is in March.

These grants are made possible through individuals pledging their United Way contributions directly to Family Connecting/
Communities In Schools. These pledges stay in Effingham County to help our families and children.