Denise Rockenstein
Staff reporter
LAKE COUNTY – The National Board of Emergency Food and Shelter Program has awarded $62,740 from Phase 27 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to Lake County to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area.
Local organizations that wish to apply for funds should submit a proposal no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17. Applications are available at the Lake County Community Action Agency located behind Foods, Etc. on Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
Lake County was selected to receive funds on a decision made by a national board, which is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security”s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The national board consists of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federations, Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way of America. The national board is responsible for providing administrative staff and functions as the fiscal agent.
A local board is responsible for distributing the funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the county. The local board consists of representatives from the Board of Supervisors, Catholic Charities, the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Tribal government, United Way, the Lake County Community Action Agency, the Latino community and the homeless community, which will determine how the funds are to be distributed in Lake County. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.
Terms of the grant require that local governmental or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must be a nonprofit, 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 organizations are urged to apply.
Previous recipients in Lake County include Catholic Charities, Community Care, Free Kitchen, Lower Lake United Methodist Church, Lake County Community Action Agency and North Shore Ministries. These agencies were responsible for providing meals, food cupboard services and shelter to community residents in need.
Further information on the program may be obtained by contacting Georgina Lehne, Local FEMA Board Chair at the Lake County Community Action Agency, 995-2920.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
