Crisp County has been awarded $12,316 in Federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

These funds have been awarded 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 American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide.

“The amount of funding available to Crisp County agencies through this phase shows an increase of close to 6% from the last funding cycle,” according to LaKisha Bryant Bruce, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Georgia. “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.”

United Way of Southwest Georgia is the distribution entity and steward of these funds in a seven county region, which includes Crisp County, as well as Baker, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell, and Worth Counties. A local board made up of Crisp County residents will determine how the funds 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 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 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, they must have a voluntary board.

Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Application for this funding must be from organizations, not individuals. In previous years, the Crisp County Emergency Food and Shelter Program local board has distributed funds to such agencies as Middle Flint Council on Aging; Liberty House; Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church; Cordele First United Methodist Church; Hollygrove Baptist Church; Second Harvest of South Georgia; and Fishes and Loaves. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds should contact the Emergency Food and Shelter Program coordinator at the United Way of Southwest Georgia, (229) 883-6700 extension 28 or email info@unitedwayswga.org to have an application packet sent. Completed funding applications must be received back at United Way by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.