Kane County gets help to feed hungry

Kane County has been chosen to receive $261,841 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federations, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and United Way of America, which will provide the administrative staff and function as 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.

A local board, which includes representatives of the Fox Valley United Way, United Way of Elgin, American Red Cross, Jewish Federation, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and a formerly homeless person, will determine how the funds awarded to Kane County are to 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 governmental or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must: be nonprofit, must have an accounting system; must practice nondiscrimination; must have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and, if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.

Qualifying organizations are urged to apply. Further information on the program and applications can be obtained by contacting Michael Meyer at Fox Valley United Way, 40 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506, (630) 896-4636.

The deadline for applications to be received is March 24.