Organizations can apply for additional funds
By Staff Reports
Published in News on May 6, 2009 1:46 PM
Wayne County has been awarded an additional $35,827 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and local officials are urging organizations that serve the less fortunate to apply for the money.
The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program already has received $72,880 in funding this year.
The money is designated to specifically address the great increases in unemployment and community need that are being seen by local boards and emergency service providers throughout the community.
The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., The Salvation Army, the United Jewish Communities and the United Way of America. They are charged by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas.
The local board, made up of representatives of the Red Cross, the City of Goldsboro, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Communities in Schools, WATCH, the Community Crisis Center, the Wayne County Office of Emergency Services, the Salvation Army and the United Way, will determine how the money is distributed.
The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds made available through ARRA.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: Be private voluntary non-profits or units of government; be eligible to receive federal funds; have an accounting system; practice nondiscrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for ARRA Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact the United Way of Wayne County at 308 N. William Street. Applications must be returned to the United Way no later than Friday, May 15 at noon.
Applicants must also attend a meeting of the Local Emergency Food and Shelter Board that will be held Thursday, May 21, starting at 9 a.m. at the United Way to be eligible for consideration.
The United Way of Wayne County will provide the administrative staff for the program.