Agencies urged to apply for funding

COUNTY — Pickens County has been chosen to receive $44,766 in federal funds 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 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. The national 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 representatives from Clemson University, Clemson Congregations in Touch, Piedmont Baptist Association, Seniors Unlimited, United Way of Pickens County, Pickens County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities and the faith community, as well as an advocate for the homeless, will determine how the federal funds awarded to Pickens County will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by various service organizations in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available in 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, demonstrate capacity to deliver effective 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.

Pickens County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously with Salvation Army, Clemson Community Care, United Christian Ministries, Golden Harvest Food Bank and SHARE.

Private or voluntary agencies interested in applying for emergency food and shelter program funds must contact Julie Capaldi at the United Way of Pickens County at 850-7094 x101 for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is March 11.