CAPE AGENCY GETS GRANT FOR FLOOD

A Cape Girardeau non-profit agency was named recipient of a portion of a $72,500 grant for flood recovery programs.

The Community Counseling Center, 402 S. Silver Springs Road, will receive about $7,500 to aid flood victims putting their lives back together after the devastating floods of this year.

The grant money comes from a Los Angeles-based international relief and development agency, Operation USA, and country music singer Clint Black.

Operation USA is allocating the $72,500 to six Missouri non-profit agencies to fund community-based programs in flood-ravaged areas.

In addition to the Community Counseling Center, groups funded include Grace Hill Neighborhood Services-Member Organized Resource Exchange of St. Louis and St. Charles counties; Missouri Rural Crisis Center, which operates statewide; the Build-Up Ste. Genevieve organization; Health Care for the Homeless Coalition of Greater St. Louis; and the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation of South St. Louis.

"Today, months after the terrible destruction caused by the floods, daunting challenges continue to confront families, small businesses and family farms throughout the Midwest," said Operation USA President Richard Walden. "Our program is designed to provide communities with critical funds to enable them to recover.

Funds and supplies are designated for construction and operating expenses and given to those programs not receiving funds from government, the American Red Cross or insurance reimbursement.

Initial funding came from a benefit concert performed by Clint Black and Wynonna Judd on Aug. 27 in Des Moines, Iowa.