Applications Accepted for Emergency Food, Fuel Funds09:56AM / Thursday, January 19, 2012
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In anticipation of funding notification from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board, Berkshire United Way, local administrator of the program, is urging qualifying organizations located throughout Berkshire County to submit an application for supplemental emergency food and shelter funding for calendar year 2012 at www.berkshireunitedway.org.
Local organizations chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary nonprofits (with a voluntary board) or units of government; have an accounting system; practice non-discrimination; and have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs. Applications must be submitted on line and are due Monday, Feb. 13, by 4 p.m. To complete the application go to www.berkshireunitedway.org and click on "log in" at the bottom of the home page.
The funding award is made by a national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way Worldwide. Funds pass directly from FEMA's EFSP program to the local agencies that are awarded funding, and a subcommittee of the local board made up of representatives of organizations that are not requesting or receiving funds determines the actual organizations that receive funding.
For the 2011 calendar year, FEMA awarded $57,617, which local representatives distributed to nine Berkshire County organizations including Berkshire Community Action Council, the Salvation Army, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Berkshire Food Project, Construct, Inc., Healthy Families/Child Care of the Berkshires and the Christian Center.
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