(WHTM)– Several months ago, abc27 News asked you to nominate remarkable women making an impact in the Midstate.

A remarkable wife to her husband Michael for 27 years and a support system for others through her dedication to public service, Cobb Jones taught middle school in the Harrisburg School District. She later became a principal and moved on to the Lancaster School District, as well as the Ronald H. Brown Charter School.

“I want to do something else,” Jones said. “So, then I always wanted to work for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. So, I ended up there and I stayed there for several years.”

Jones never forgot the time she spent with students.

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“When I was in the classroom, as well as an administrator, oftentimes when we had parent conferencing, I would meet with the grandparents, the grandparents were with their grandchildren, and they just looked so weary,” Jones said. “You know, it’s like you could just see it in their eyes and in their face how tired they were. And also, my mother helped to raise my niece.”

The experience prompted her to start a nonprofit.

“G.I.F.T.S. stands for Grandparents Involved From The Start,” Jones said. “And what we do is we support grandparents that are raising their grandchildren between the ages of 5 and 18 years old with information resources. And when we get funding, we provide funding to them by way of gift cards for gas, school clothes, school supplies, and food.”

Cathlene Jackson takes part in G.I.F.T.S. and is raising her two young grandchildren after her daughter died from COVID-19 in 2021.

“I was in a low place, I didn’t know how my life completely changed with me losing my daughter and having these two younger kids it’s like starting all over again and to know there was this type of support out there it was truly amazing,” Jackson said.

A blessing to Michael too, who nominated his wife.

“It’s just remarkable, this remarkable that she has done and is doing what she’s doing,” Michael said.

If you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren and need help – or if you would like to make a donation, visit the GIFTS website.

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