VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) — United Way of Venango County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food And Shelter National Board Program.

United Way of Venango County will receive $30,994.00 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 USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide.

“This is a lot bigger grant than we’ve gotten in years past. We got a huge increase in funding this year. I think our grant last year was around $7,000.00,” said Will Price, Executive Director of United Way of Venango County.

“There is a formula they use that goes off of unemployment rate, population, and the number of people in the low-income areas. Our numbers were higher this year so we got more funding,” he continued. “In the last few years, I think most of the money went to food assistance in the Venango County area.”

Price said some of the organizations who have received funding through this program in the past include the Salvation Army, Community Services, Family Services and the PPC Shelter, and the County of Venango.

The Local 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 United Way, Salvation Army, Community Services, and the County of Venango will determine how the funds awarded to Venango County 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 made available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact United Way of Venango County at 814-676-6545.