Special to the Herald

Perry County has been awarded Federal Funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Perry County has been chosen to receive $17,900 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 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 which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. The Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. A local board made up of community-based organizations will determine how the funds awarded to Perry County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local 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 Board, local governmental or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be nonprofit, 2) have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs and, 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply.

Perry County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with LKLP Community Action and Hazard Perry County Community Ministries participating. These agencies were responsible for providing meals and nights of lodging, utilities and rent payments.

Information on the program may be obtained by contacting Carolyn May or Gerry Roll at Hazard Perry County Community Ministries at 606-439-1122. The deadline for organizations to apply is no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, January 27, 2005.