The Morris Bank Community Foundation has just concluded their third annual “12 Days of Christmas” grant, donating $24,000 back to the communities their branches serve. Beginning December 1^st through the 12^th, the bank released one winner a day on their Facebook page, each receiving $2,000 to go towards tangible purchases or a project to support their mission. Applications were received through the Morris Bank website, and this year’s winners were selected by the Morris Bank Community Foundation board members from the pool of submissions.

“As we close out the 2024 year, we’re reminded of the challenges many of our local nonprofits and community organizations have faced during the past 12 months,” said Whitney Kilgo, Executive Director of the Morris Bank Community Foundation. “Our board members have a true heart for service and unanimously decided to continue with our third year of the ’12 Days of Christmas’ grant. Although there are so many deserving applicants year after year, we’re grateful to be able to provide twelve recipients with funding during the holiday season when many of them need it most.”

The grant applications are accepted from organizations within each of the counties where Morris Bank branches are located: Laurens, Jones, Houston, and Bulloch counties.

Day 1:Stepping Stone Child Advocacy and Sexual Assault Center—The mission of Stepping Stone is to lessen the trauma suffered by individuals who have been abused or assaulted by providing evaluation in a safe, caring environment and to encourage the collaboration of services for the benefit of the victims and their non-offending family members. Funds received from this year's "12 Days of Christmas" grant will go to purchase a new hospital bed and a portable medical supply cart to help expand their crisis care location in Laurens County.

Day 2:The Button, Inc.—This organization’s goal is to discreetly provide free personal hygiene items to students in Bulloch County. "The Button" enables students to privately request and receive free toiletries and personal needs through an innovative, anonymous digital platform using an online link. Their funds received from this year's grant will be used to help purchase items for over 1,400 Christmas bundles going home with students in need during their holiday break from school.

Day 3:Kid’s Cup—Located in Dublin, this organization serves as a community closet and creates a resource for foster children, kinship families, and children and families in crisis all the way from newborn to teens. Kid's Cup provides children with free gently used and new clothing, shoe vouchers, baby items, books, toys, pillows, and Bibles. Funds from this year's "12 Days of Christmas" grant will be used to purchase new socks, pajamas, and throws/blankets for children they serve.

Day 4:Erin Garden Club of Dublin, Inc.— The mission of this civic organization is to promote the love of gardening and the study of horticulture, to protect our native trees, wildflowers, and birds, and to encourage civic planning. Funds from this year's grant will be used to support a beautification project presented to the Erin Garden Club by the City of Dublin. This will allow the club to purchase new shrubbery for community areas across Downtown Dublin.

Day 5:Caring Solutions of Central Georgia—This organization is Houston County's primary resource for pregnant mothers and their families that specializes in offering medical care and support services. One of the most basic needs for bringing a child into the world is having a safe way for them to travel and a safe place for them to sleep. Funds from the "12 Days of Christmas" grant will be used to purchase car seats and pack 'n plays to support families and provide every resource to help them be the best parent they can be. 

Day 6:J.O.Y. Health Clinic— The mission of this Laurens County organization is to share the love of Christ through compassionate and quality healthcare to the working, uninsured and underserved in the area. Each and every dollar received by the organization is used for the betterment of their patients, so funds from our "12 Days of Christmas" grant will be used to purchase much-needed copiers and new patient chairs for their facility.

Day 7:Boys and Girls Club of Laurens County— Many of us are aware of the impact the Boys and Girls Club has on the children in our communities by enabling all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. This year, our grant funds will be used to purchase indoor and outdoor sports equipment for kids in our community.

Day 8:Helping Hands of Houston County, Inc.— This organization is a Soup Kitchen Outreach that provides support to the food challenged in the Houston County community through hot meals each Monday and Friday. For over 30 years, they have partnered with the volunteer efforts of several churches in the area including First United Methodist, where the site and efforts are hosted. Their "12 Days of Christmas" funds received this year will go to purchase food and supplies for their bi-weekly meals

Day 9:Safe Haven— The mission of Citizens Against Violence, Inc. is to serve, strengthen, and support victims and children of domestic violence through the provision of emergency and community-based services. With funds from our Christmas grant, Safe Haven will be able to purchase a new playset for children staying in their emergency shelter.

Day 10:Dublin-Laurens County Humane Society— The DLCHS seeks to serve as many animals as possible and to educate the community with the hope to make a positive impact on animal suffering, overpopulation, and homelessness of animals in our community. To help maintain their "no kill" status, funds from the "12 Days of Christmas" grant will be used to purchase vaccines and other veterinary medications for animals at the shelter.

Day 11:Toys for Tots— The U.S. Marine Corps Foundation Toys for Tots has a generous mission to ensure each child in our local communities receives a gift during the Christmas Season. This year's holiday funding will be used in Houston County to purchase age appropriate toy donations for children in need within the community.

Day 12: The Food Bank, Inc.— Last, but certainly not least, is our 12^th and final recipient of the Morris Bank "12 Days of Christmas" grant - The Statesboro Food Bank. Funds will go to purchase food from Second Harvest for $0.19/lb. in order to contribute to their monthly food expenditure of $5,000-$8,000. Their mission is to eliminate hunger and improve the health and well-being of the region through access to healthy and nutritious foods, community education, and advocacy.