County given FEMA food, shelter funding

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County has been chosen to receive $5,411 to supplement food and shelter programs in Van Wert County.  The selection was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and consisting of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and United Way Worldwide, which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. That board is responsible for distributing funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high need areas around the country.

A local FEMA board includes a number of community organizations’ representatives, including Andy McMahon of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Candi Sites of First United Methodist Church Cooperative Ministries, Van Wert County representative Mike Jackson, Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission representative Angie Franklin, American Red Cross Director David Collins, Major Judy Barter of the Salvation Army, Jamie Evans of the YWCA, and Annette Balyeat and Vicki Smith of United Way of Van Wert County.

The local FEMA board will determine how the funds awarded to Van Wert County are distributed among emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area.  The local board is responsible for recommending 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 FEMA board, local organizations chosen to receive funds must:

• Be private voluntary non-profits or units of government
• Have an accounting system
• Practice non-discrimination
• Have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs
• If a private voluntary organization, it must have a voluntary board

Qualifying organizations are urged to apply. Van Wert County distributed FEMA funds last year to the Community Action Commission, Salvation Army, and the YWCA.

Public or private voluntary organizations interested in applying for FEMA funds must contact Vicki Smith at the United Way office for an application. The deadline for applications is noon on Monday, April 6.  For more information, contact the United Way of Van Wert County at 419.238.6689.