Cape Girardeau County chosen for FEMA funds

~ A local board will determine how funds are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs.

Federal funding from the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program announced that Cape Girardeau County has been chosen to receive $36,175 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area for 2006.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for emergency food and shelter programs seeking funding must contact the United Way of Southeast Missouri at 334-9634 to apply prior to Jan. 25.

The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the FEMA and representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent.

To serve high-need areas

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 local emergency service providers, the United Way of Southeast Missouri, Community Caring Council, St. Vincent's Church, the county commissioners office and the community at large will determine how funds awarded to Cape County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area.

The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Ron MacCubbin with the American Red Cross is the current local board chairman.

Guidelines to follow

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local government or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must:

* be private voluntary notfor-profits or units of government

* have an accounting system

* practice nondiscrimination

* have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs

* if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.

Qualifying organizations are urged to apply.

Cape Girardeau County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously to East Missouri Action Agency, FISH, Jackson Food Pantry, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, Safe House for Women and the Salvation Army.

These agencies were responsible for providing more than 767 nights of lodging, utility assistance to six families, rental assistance to 28 families, and food to 2,100 people this past year with this funding.