GreyStone's Operation Round Up

program strengthens communities

It all starts with pocket change. But by the power of members voluntarily rounding up their electric bills to the nearest dollar each month, a few cents has grown to make a big difference. A difference that in 2009 helped to donate $647,040 to non-profit organizations through the GreyStone Power Foundation, Inc.’s Operation Round Up program.

      By supporting local organizations, Operation Round Up serves to strengthen communities, develop resources, and expand services and programs for those in need. “For GreyStone, giving back is not just a gesture, it’s a matter of principle,” says GreyStone President/CEO Gary Miller. From inspiring youth to realize their full potential, to counseling expectant mothers and feeding the hungry, Operation Round Up remains an economic driver in GreyStone’s communities. In 2009, the program assisted 50 organizations committed to making a difference. One of these organizations is the Warehouse of Hope, Inc., a Christian, non-profit organization in Douglasville that provides a lifeline of food, clothing and spiritual support to families facing hardships.

      Each month the ministry distributes an average of 7,000 bags of groceries full of food and supplies, and provides clothing to nearly 350 families in need. In a single week, Warehouse of Hope serves 1,400 families. Last year, Operation Round Up donated $20,000 to the organization to help defer freight charges to deliver food and other essential items to the facility. “We get 10 delivery trucks a month with a total freight bill of $10,000,”says Warehouse of Hope Founder/CEO Craig Parson. “Operation Round Up funds helped us to get much needed supplies to the warehouse to distribute to hurting families.”

      With 5 percent staff members and 95 percent volunteers, the Warehouse of Hope reaches out to families and individuals mainly in Douglas and Paulding counties—and in 2009 touched the lives of more than 52,000. “All of this is made possible with the provision of God, the help of our ministry partners and supporters such as GreyStone,” says Craig.

      Operation Round Up is supported by 28,602 GreyStone members volunteering to round up their electric bills to help those in need. Members donate an average of $8 annually. Individually this does not total a staggering amount, but collectively Operation Round Up contributions can go a long way in providing severely needed funds to community non-profit organizations. To contribute to the program, call 770-370-2960, or simply check “YES I want to support Operation Round Up” on your electric bill.

Organizations assisted by Operation Round Up funds in 2009 totaling $647,040

• A Fresh Hope, Acworth
• A Gift of Love Services, Douglasville
• American Red Cross, Atlanta
• Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta
• Boys & Girls Club Douglas, Douglasville
• Boys & Girls Club Paulding, Dallas
• Carroll County Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Carrollton
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Carrollton
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Dallas
• CAYA (Come As You Are), Dallas
• Christian Aid Mission, Lithia Springs
• Christian City, Union City
• Communities in Schools of Douglas County, Douglasville
• Community Health Center, Austell
• Cultural Arts Council of Douglas County, Douglasville
• Daily Bread Ministry, Douglasville
• Douglas County Public Safety Santa, Douglasville
• Douglas County Shelter, Douglasville
• Douglas County Sheriff’s Special Projects, Douglasville
• Family Alliance of Paulding, Hiram
• Fayette Counseling Center, Fayetteville
• Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Newnan
• Georgia Masonic Charities, Macon
• Georgia Society for Prevention of Blindness, Atlanta
• Good Samaritan Center, Douglasville
• KCI (Kingdom Communities Inc.) Kids, Dallas
• Live Healthy Douglas Coalition, Douglasville
• New Start Resources, Inc., Lithia Springs
• Paulding Child Advocacy Center, Inc., Dallas
• Paulding County Cops for Kids, Dallas
• Paulding Pregnancy Services, Hiram
• Pregnancy Resource Center, Douglasville
• River of Life (Dallas First United Methodist Church), Dallas
• Rolling Hills Resource Conservation & Development Council, Cedartown
• Safe Kids Douglas County, Douglasville
• Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, Stone Mountain
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Atlanta
• Soldier’s Angels, Douglasville
• Southwest Christian Hospice & Hope, Union City
• Special Olympics of Georgia, Atlanta
• Sweetwater Valley CAMP (Community Action Mission Program), Austell
• The Children’s Village at Christian City, Union City
• The Hope Project, Douglasville
• The Pavilion Church “Car Dudes,” Douglasville
• Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta, Atlanta
• Vision 21 Concepts, Hiram
• Warehouse of Hope, Douglasville
• West Central Technical College Foundation, Waco
• Willowbrooke at Tanner, Carrollton
• Zion Hill Community Development, East Point