St. Marys church begins giving away donated millions

SAINT MARYS - The Saint Marys United Methodist Church Foundation is awarding $337,500 this month to eleven charitable organizations. <br> <br> The nonprofit foundation&#39;s gifts will help victims of physical and sexual abuse, support tutoring programs, provide legal assistance to poor people, create a prison ministry and support Salvation Army chapters in Glynn and Camden counties. <br> <br> Jeff Barker, president of the foundation, said the board of directors considered 52 requests that met their criteria before making the decision. <br> <br> Barker said some of the charitable organizations that did not receive donations were encouraged to submit another application. <br> <br> The foundation was created in January 2001, months after the church was left 49 percent of Camden Telephone Company stock -- worth $60 million.