Agency applications sought for emergency food and shelter program grants

Okanogan County has been awarded federal funds for Emergency Food and Shelter Programs in the area.

Okanogan County Community Action Council announced that Okanogan County has been chosen to receive $35,429 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area.

The selection was made by a national board which consists of representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federations, Catholic Charities,USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. The board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A local board made up of representatives from Community Action, county food banks, Catholic Charities, the Support Center, the Colville Tribe, Neighbors Helping Neighbors and other service agencies will determine how the funds awarded to the county are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this Phase 27 of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local governmental or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be non-profit or an agency of government; 2) have an accounting system or an approved fiscal agent; 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.

Qualifying organizations are urged to contact Community Action by Jan. 23 and attend the local board meeting at Community Action on Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. when funding decisions will be made.

The local board has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously with the eight county food banks, The Support Center, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Catholic Charities, Okanogan County Transportation & Nutrition, Colville Confederated Tribes, and Okanogan County Community Action Council.

Further information on the program and the application process for qualifying organizations may be obtained from Steve Fletcher or John Perry at Okanogan Community Action, 422-4041, or toll free at 1-877-641-0101

The deadline for new agency applications is Jan. 23 2009.