Jackson County has been awarded federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Jackson County will receive $6,453 for Phase 30 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area.

The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the 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 U.S.A., and United Way of America. 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.

The local board is made up of members representing various non-profit affiliations such as the Ministerial Alliance, Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group Inc., a community representative, and a local government official. This local board will determine how the funds awarded to Jackson County will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under 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, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capacity to deliver 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.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and shelter Program funds must contact Amy Reyes at Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group, 900 S. Carver Road in Altus, 580-482-5040, for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is 12 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20.