Two Forsyth County charities and a local elementary school teacher received grants from the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundations through its Operation Round-up program.

The grants went to American Auxiliary Post 307, The Place of Forsyth County and Cumming Elementary School teacher Ashley Mastrangelo, according to a press release.

American Auxiliary, Post 307 plans to use their grant to send four local boys to American Legion Boys State, a leadership education experience. The Place of Forsyth County plans to create gardens so local residents can have fresh vegetables. Mastrangelo received the grant from the Operation Round-up’s Bright Ideas program to implement the “Be, Believe, Become Great Readers” project.

In addition, Sunshine on a Ranney Day, a Roswell-based organization, received a grant to build a wheelchair-accessible bathroom for a Forsyth County teenager with spina bifida.

Those interested in receiving the grants are required to submit an application to the Foundation’s board. In order to qualify, the 501(c) charity must be located in Sawnee EMC’s service area and/or provide a service to the community. Teachers can apply for funds through the Bright Ideas program as long as the school he or she teaches is within the Sawnee EMC service area.

The grants are made possible by the 18,000-plus members of Sawnee EMC choosing each month to round their electric bill up to the next highest dollar. The Foundation has donated more than $2.6 million into communities since its inception in 2003.