Union County to receive more than $12,000 from Emergency Food and Shelter National Board For Immediate Release February 23, 2005

Union County has been chosen to receive $12,112 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists 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 the United Way of America. The National 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 a representative of the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Union County Department of Job and Family Services, Union County Health Department, Union County Council on Aging, Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Marysville Food Pantry, Milford Center Food Pantry, Plain City Food Pantry, Richwood Emergency Assistance Program, Community Action Organization, Union County Commissioners; and the United Way of Union County will determine how the funds awarded to Union County are to be distributed among emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies 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. 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, 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. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Last year Union County’s Local Board distributed the Emergency Food and Shelter funds to The Salvation Army’s Homeless Prevention Program. This program was responsible for providing rent assistance to nineteen (19) households and assisting another thirty-one (31) households pay utility bills. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds are required to submit a letter of application to: United Way of Union County, P O Box 145, Marysville, OH 43040 on or before March 11, 2005 at noon. The Local Board will meet on Friday, March 18 at 2:30 pm at the United Way office at 232 North Main Street, Suite UW in Marysville. The letter of application should outline the agency’s proposed use of the funds and include documentation demonstrating their compliance with the National Board’s requirements.

For more information, please contact the United Way of Union County at 644-8381 or by e-mail at unitedwayuc2@imetweb.net.