Mississippi County has been chosen to receive $38,944 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county, according to information from the office of Mississippi County Judge Steve McGuire.
The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, and consists of representatives from Catholic Charities, USA; the National Council of the Churches of Christ in USA; The Salvation Army; United Jewish Communities and the United Way of America.
The local board will be charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
The local board will determine how the funds awarded to Mississippi County 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 recommended 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 and have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs. If they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply .
Mississippi County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously with the Mississippi County Economic Opportunity Commission, Blytheville/Gosnell Food Pantry, Blytheville Community Samaritan Ministry, Osceola Community of Shalom and Broadway Community Outreach Services.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter program funds must contact Laura Washington or Laura Hansen at the Mississippi County Judge's office in Blytheville at 763-3212. The deadline for application is Feb. 19.