December 11, 2006

Monroe County Awarded Federal Funds Under The Emergency Food And Shelter National Board Program

Local organizations encouraged to apply for available funds

Rochester, NY – Monroe County has been chosen to receive more than $465,000 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs here. A local board—made up of members from The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, American Red Cross, Monroe County, United Way, and others—will decide how the federal funding will be allocated among emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations.

Monroe County’s selection was made by a national board, 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 U.S.A., and United Way of America—which will provide the administrative staff and function as the 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.

Under the terms of the grant, local organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1.) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government, 2.) have an accounting system, 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. Qualified organizations are urged to apply.

Local public or private voluntary organizations interested in applying for Emergency Food & Shelter Program funds may get an application by visiting United Way’s web site at www.uwrochester.org and clicking on For Service Providers, or by contacting Jenifer Higgins at United Way of Greater Rochester at (585) 242-6564. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2007.



The vision of United Way of Greater Rochester is to be the leading, broad-based community resource for identifying, solving and preventing our most critical social problems. Our mission is to magnify and focus the power of community resources to address our most pressing social needs.