Chautauqua County has been selected to receive $45,132 to supplement the countywide emergency food and shelter program.
The award is presented by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) National Committee, chaired by FEMA and comprised of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities of America, National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States, Salvation Army, United Jewish Community and United Way Worldwide.
Locally, Southern Chautauqua County’s United Way leads the emergency food and shelter program and is responsible for distributing these awards. The purpose of these funds is to expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas.
“Any organization operating in our county is eligible and they can contact United Way to better understand how the program works,” said Amy Rohler, executive director of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County. “These are federal grants, so there are some reporting requirements to consider before applying. However, our goal is to ensure they are distributed fairly across the county.”
Local EFSP committee members include American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Chautauqua Opportunity, UCAN City Mission, Jamestown Meals on Wheels, FeedMore WNY, Pathstone, Jamestown Salvation Army, and Chautauqua North and South United Way counties . Many local board members have years of experience understanding the food and shelter needs of Chautauqua County.
The application deadline is Wednesday, March 1st. Interested parties should contact Rohler at 716-483-1561 for application instructions.
