Morningstar Children and Family Services in Brunswick specializes in caring for special needs foster boys, ages 12-21, who have come into care due to abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Their 50-bed residential program is the only one in Georgia exclusively serving developmentally delayed youth, many with autism and complex care needs. In addition to providing a home for these children, Morningstar also offers therapeutic counseling, life skill training, and workforce coaching to help ensure a brighter future for the youth in their care. The children also continue educational studies, working towards a high school diploma, and receive ongoing recreational opportunities.

As part of its residential program, Morningstar offers “Food is Love” to the boys in their care, which a $3,000 grant from the Southeastern Bank Community Foundation helped fund.

“When boys come to Morningstar, they are looking to heal,” said Lisa Johnson, Grants Coordinator for Morningstar. “They are looking for comfort and familiarity. Having three hot and nutritious meals per day provides that comfort. Many of our boys have experienced food insecurity during their short lives. Our kitchen team provides not just a place to eat, but also a place where our boys feel safe and secure. They feel connected to our team and know they can count on a warm greeting, a smile, and a great meal in the Morningstar cafeteria!”

“Morningstar needs our community to stand in the gap for those we serve,” said Johnson. “Funding must come from a variety of sources to meet the needs of the boys who call our campus home. Partners like Southeastern Bank are critical to the mission. We are honored to partner with this wonderful business, where team members don’t just provide funding; they also give their time to connect with our programs. This is how lasting partnerships are forged.”

“Foster children are some of our most vulnerable,” said Jay Torbert, President and CEO of Southeastern Bank. “We’re glad to support these children and Morningstar with a grant to the Foods is Love program.”

 

About Southeastern Bank Community Foundation, Inc.

A 501(c)(3) organization, Southeastern Bank Community Foundation supports local nonprofits making a difference in the communities served by Southeastern Bank. Employees of the Bank serve on the Foundation Board on a rotational basis and determine how funds are dispersed in its local communities. The Foundation is currently funded with donations from the Bank.

 

Applications for future grant award cycles are available on the Bank’s website at southeasternbank.com or any Southeastern Bank office.

 

About Southeastern Bank

Established in 1888, Southeastern Bank has a long history of serving its customers and communities through its 11 locations in coastal Georgia and northeast Florida. The Bank is headquartered in Darien, Georgia. Visit southeasternbank.com to learn more.

About Us: Southeastern Bank, established in 1888, has a long history of serving its customers and communities. From traditional deposit and loan services to long-term mortgage originations and credit cards, Southeastern Bank has the financial products you need most. The Bank has 10 branch locations throughout coastal Georgia and northeast Florida, including Brunswick, Callahan, Darien, Eulonia, Folkston, Hilliard, Kingsland, Nahunta, Richmond Hill and St. Simons Island, and a loan production office in Hinesville.

Thanks to a recent grant of $2,000 from the Southeastern Bank Community Foundation, community members in Camden County now have a few more library-sharing boxes at local parks and other sites.

The grant was awarded to LEAD Woodbine Partners, Inc., the non-profit support, advocacy and fund-raising arm of the Woodbine Public Library.

“Literacy, education, arts and development are addressed by our group, helping our community come together for resources that have not been available in our rural area in the past,” said Janet Heath, Principal Officer with LEAD Woodbine Partners. “The library is a full-service lending library offering resources for children, families, students, adults and the working public with books and printed materials, film and audio recordings, computers, printers and community programs. LEAD is the community connection beyond the scope of what staff can offer on a day-to-day basis.”

As Heath explains, the six little library boxes being funded by the grant can be used when the library is not open.  Additionally, the books can be shared more easily since there is no actual “checking out” the books.  The books can be kept or returned.

“The boxes also have information about the Woodbine Public Library to encourage a visit for access to the state-wide Pines lending library, for research, computers, printers and community programs,” said Heath.

In addition to the boxes, LEAD Woodbine Partners also provides cultural programming and free books to children at festivals and the Head Start program in Woodbine. They have also provided more than 1,000 books to inmates of the Camden County Jail.

“The Woodbine Public Library was conceived as a meeting place for our community to share, to learn, to give, to come together. LEAD Woodbine Partners, Inc. is able to strengthen the library effort by reaching out to the community to engage, to encourage participation, and to learn what is needed in our community.”

“Investments in literacy and education pay big dividends,” said Jay Torbert, President and CEO of Southeastern Bank.  “At Southeastern Bank, we know these investments improve lives for individuals and communities as a whole.  We’re proud to support LEAD Woodbine in their initiatives.”

 

About Southeastern Bank Community Foundation, Inc.

A 501(c)(3) organization, Southeastern Bank Community Foundation supports local nonprofits making a difference in the communities served by Southeastern Bank. Employees of the Bank serve on the Foundation Board on a rotational basis and determine how funds are dispersed in its local communities.  The Foundation is currently funded with donations from the Bank.

Applications for future grant award cycles are available on the Bank’s website at southeasternbank.com or any Southeastern Bank office.

 

About Southeastern Bank

Established in 1888, Southeastern Bank has a long history of serving its customers and communities through its 11 locations in coastal Georgia and northeast Florida. The Bank is headquartered in Darien, Georgia.  Visit southeasternbank.com to learn more.

 

About Us: Southeastern Bank, established in 1888, has a long history of serving its customers and communities. From traditional deposit and loan services to long-term mortgage originations and credit cards, Southeastern Bank has the financial products you need most. The Bank has 10 branch locations throughout coastal Georgia and northeast Florida, including Brunswick, Callahan, Darien, Eulonia, Folkston, Hilliard, Kingsland, Nahunta, Richmond Hill and St. Simons Island, and a loan production office in Hinesville.