County Emergency Services Awarded Federal Funds

WHITESIDE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCIES AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM
 
(Sterling, Ill.) – July 28, 2017 – Emergency service agencies in Whiteside County will be chosen to receive an aggregate of $10,101 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs through a federal appropriation from Congress to the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. A local volunteer board under guidance of the United Way will determine how these funds — along with any additional funds available under this phase of the program, if any —  will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the county.  
 
Public or private voluntary organizations interested in applying for available funds must contact Diana Verhulst, United Way Chief Executive Officer, or Pam Martinez, Director of Programs and Services at (815) 625-7973 for information and an application. The deadline for application acceptance is 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017.
 
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local organizations chosen to receive funds must: be private voluntary non-profits or units of government; have an accounting system; practice nondiscrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and if a private voluntary organization, must have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply.
 
The selection of the Whiteside County region was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) comprised of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and United Way Worldwide, 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.
 
United Way has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds in previous years.  Distributed funds provided meals and 120 nights of lodging.  
 
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program began in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation. The program was created by Congress to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter. –