Contact: Michael G. Gaffney, APR
Vice President, Marketing
Office: 330-643-5532
Cell: 330-701-8080

Date: January 3, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEDERAL FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY FOOD, SHELTER
TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH UNITED WAY

(AKRON, OHIO) – United Way of Summit County will oversee distribution of federal monies designated for our region.  Summit County will be awarded $339,839 (a decrease of $6,934 from 2006) for year 2007 under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.  The funds are to be used by eligible local service agencies to supplement and expand the capacity of emergency food and shelter programs in Summit County.  A National Board made up of representatives from national organizations and chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated the grant.

The Summit County Emergency Food and Shelter Local Board, consisting of representatives from voluntary, governmental, and religious sectors will determine how funds awarded to Summit County are to be distributed among local eligible emergency food and shelter programs.

Under terms of the grant, local organizations receiving funds must (1) be private voluntary nonprofit or units of government; (2) have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit by an independent accountant depending on the award amount; (3) practice non-discrimination; (4) operate an ongoing program that has demonstrated capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and (5) have a voluntary board, if a private, voluntary organization.  The Summit County local board has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter Funds previously to 29 participating agencies, which provided more than 134,317 meals, 2,079 nights of shelter, paid 268 utility bills and provided 313 units of rent/mortgage assistance.

Eligible organizations interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact the United Way of Summit County, Community Investment Division, at 330-643-5510.  The application deadline is January 24, 2007.