PICKENS COUNTY — A National Board chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has selected Pickens County to receive a $56,144 grant to be used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs across the county.
According to United Way of Pickens County Manager of Programs and Initiatives Jeremy Price, the Board consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way Worldwide.
“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,” said Price. “A local board and an advocate for the homeless will determine how the federal funds awarded to Pickens County will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by various service organizations in the area.”
The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available in this phase of the program, he said.
“Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must be private volunteer non-profits or units of government,” Price said. “They have to have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination and they have to demonstrate a capacity to deliver effective emergency food and shelter programs.”
In addition, agencies are required to have a voluntary board if they are a private voluntary organization, he said.
But all the money hasn’t been doled out yet and qualifying agencies urged to apply, said Price.
“Pickens County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously with the Salvation Army, United Christian Ministries, Family Promise and Clemson Community Care,” he said.
Private or voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds are asked to contact Jeremy Price at United Way of Pickens County at 864-850-7094, extension 133, for an application.
The deadline for the applications is July 31.