Friday afternoon, a local board representing several area aide organizations learned the county will receive over $20,000 from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security to bolster emergency services.
“Barton County has been chosen to receive $8,902 in Phase 37 and $12,692 in Phase CARES to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county,” the release stated.
A National Board chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency made the selection. The board consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The local 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 Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, The Salvation Army, The Family Crisis Center, Inc., United Way of Central Kansas and local community members at large will determine how the funds are to be distributed among the 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 made available under this phase of the program.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Gaila Demel at United Way of Central Kansas, 1125 Williams, Great Bend, KS 67530, 620-792-2403 for an application. A separate application must be completed for each phase. The deadline for applications to be received is Friday, June 5, 2020.
