This month, our Industry Spotlight focuses on Georgia Power and Project SHARE, which helps those in need during emergencies and challenging economic times. Project SHARE has helped over 1 mission Georgia residents acquire food, shelter, clothing, medical supplies, and pay utility bills.
Since its inception in 1985, Project SHARE has collected more than $72 million through the donations Georgia Power customers make when they pay their electric bills. Last year, Project SHARE provided assistance to more than 50,000 Georgians, with Georgia Power and its customers contributing $1.8 million to the program.
Money collected stays in the county from which it originates, so these donations go to work within their residents' communities. Once a customer is enrolled enroll, a designated contribution is added to their electric bill, with the monthly gift disclosed as a separate line item on their bills for tax purposes.
“Project SHARE is a partnership that recognizes the need to help those in emergency situations. Every person who contributes joins hands with The Salvation Army and more than 30 utilities and thousands of other concerned Georgians to help meet those needs. We remain grateful to Georgia Power for their continued partnership and leadership on this important initiative”
– Lt. Colonel William G. Mockabee,
Divisional Commander, Georgia Division,
The Salvation Army
The original partnership between Georgia Power and The Salvation Army has grown to include most of Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs), Gas South, and many municipal utility companies. Each company provides an efficient means for customers to participate in Project SHARE by making it possible to include charitable donations with utility payments. Georgia Power matches its customer donations up to $1,500,000 per year.
Project SHARE is administered by The Salvation Army who allocates funds on a local, count-by-count level. Project SHARE is, literally, "Neighbors Helping Neighbors."
To learn more about this program, visit https://www.georgiapower.com/projectshare