Congressional Funds to Support Food and Shelter Programs

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Emergency service agencies in Whiteside County will be chosen to receive an aggregate of $57,839 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs.  Funds were awarded 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 will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs, run by local service organizations in the County.  The board will also determine spending of any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

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 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 26, 2020.  Qualifying organizations are encouraged to apply.

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
  • if a private voluntary organization, must have a voluntary Board.

The selection of the Whiteside County region was made by a National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.)  It is 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.

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