UWA awarded funds for food and shelter
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board program are coming to Aroostook County to help those in need of assistance.
“Aroostook County has been chosen to receive $31,899 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. 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; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide,” said Claudia Stevens, executive director of the United Way of Aroostook.
Stevens said 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 United Way officials, Emergency Management and local volunteers will determine how the funds awarded to Aroostook County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area,” Stevens said.
According to Stevens, 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: 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, have a voluntary board,” said Stevens, noting qualified agencies are urged to apply.
Stevens said Aroostook County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously with several agencies.
“Funds have been disbursed through Catholic Charities of Maine, Hope & Justice Project, Community Health Counseling, Homeless Services of Aroostook, Helping Hands for Children and Families, Caribou’s Bread of Life, Salvation Army of Houlton, Aroostook Agency on Aging, Meals on Wheels, Caribou Ecumenical Food Pantry, St. John Vianney Parish, The Lord’s Pantry, and Greater Fort Kent Ecumenical Food Pantry,” said Stevens. “These agencies were responsible for providing thousands of meals and hundreds of nights of lodging in the last year.”
