Georgia Natural Gas (GNG) is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations working to meet the needs of communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.  GNG and the Georgia Natural Gas Foundation are donating $200,000 to nonprofits including Georgia-based organizations to support their work to provide essential services and financial assistance. The donation is part of an effort led by GNG’s parent company, Southern Company Gas, which announced in March that it will contribute $2.5 million across its operations footprint.

The funding will be distributed to various metro Atlanta agencies including Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit organization which provides financial assistance to food service workers in crisis due to an unexpected illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, or housing disaster. During the coronavirus crisis, the Giving Kitchen is addressing the needs of food service workers in Georgia who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or those who are under a doctor’s orders for a mandatory quarantine.

“Georgia Natural Gas was the Giving Kitchen’s first corporate partner and we are grateful for their continued, generous support during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Bryan Schroeder, executive director of Giving Kitchen. “I think we all recognize how hard-hit the food service industry has been – especially the industry’s vital food service workers. With this donation, we’ll be able to provide emergency assistance through financial support and our cultivated network of community resources.”

Additional Georgia-based organizations that will receive the donation funding include Meals on Wheels Atlanta; the CDC Foundation; A.G Rhodes Health & Rehab; and Visiting Nurse Health System, which provides in-home care to patients affected by COVID-19.

“This supplementary support reflects our company’s genuine and ongoing commitment to vulnerable communities and households through meaningful nonprofit support,” said Mike Braswell, president and CEO of GNG. “These types of donations are critical, especially at a time when our colleagues are unable to lend the hands-on volunteer support, they typically provide to these agencies due to social distancing and quarantine measures.”

In the coming days, GNG will harness its employees’ philanthropic sprit and introduce a new program where employees can designate a one-time company donation to a nonprofit organization in Georgia. GNG will make the donation on the employee’s behalf. All donations will address the needs of those affected by COVID-19.