Emergency food and shelter program funding received for Dougherty County

ALBANY — Dougherty County has received $52,529 in federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

The funds have been awarded to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county, officials with the United Way of Southwest Georgia said.

“The amount of funding available to Dougherty County agencies through this phase shows an increase of close to 3 percent from the last funding cycle,” said United Way CEO LaKisha Bryant Bruce. “We know the needs have increased for food and shelter programs, so we are encouraged that our Emergency Food and Shelter Program partners will have more funds available to them as they work to relieve hunger and homelessness in our community.”

The organization serves as a distribution entity and steward of these funds in a seven-county region including Dougherty, Baker, Crisp, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell and Worth counties.

United Way officials said the selection for funding was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 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.

A board made up of Dougherty County residents is expected to determine how the funds are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by Albany area service agencies. The board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program, officials said.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, agencies chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary nonprofits 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 the agency is a private voluntary organization, must have a voluntary board.

Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Applications for this funding must be from organizations, not individuals.

In previous years, the Dougherty County Emergency Food and Shelter Program board has distributed funds to agencies including St. Clare’s Community Center, SOWEGA Council on Aging’s Meals on Wheels, Liberty House of Albany, Open Arms’ The Bridge, Faith Community Outreach Center and Second Harvest of South Georgia’s branch in Albany.

Using EFSP funds during the last allocations cycle, these agencies were responsible for providing more than 1,000 nights of lodging, 8,500 served meals and 1,800 food boxes to those in need in the county, United Way officials said.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for funds for this cycle should contact the Emergency Food and Shelter Program coordinator at United Way by calling (229) 883-6700, ext. 28, or emailing [email protected] to have an application packet sent.

Completed funding applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31.