Barton County has been chosen to receive $6,442 in Phase 42 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. These federal funds are made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Barton County was selected 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. The goal of this program is to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A Local Board made up of Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, The Salvation Army, Red Cross, Barton County Emergency Aid, Family Crisis Center, Central Plains United Way will determine how the funds awarded to Barton 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:

• be private, voluntary non-profits or units of government;

• be eligible to receive Federal funds;

• have an accounting system;

• practice nondiscrimination;

• have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs;

• if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board.

Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Barton County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, The Salvation Army, Family Crisis Center and the Barton County Emergency Aid. These agencies were responsible for providing meals and lodging for those in need, in addition to assistance with rent and energy bills with funding provided in the Emergency Food and Shelter Program’s last phase of funding.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds should contact Marci Smith at Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, 705 Ballinger St., Garden City, KS 67846 620-277-9588 for an application. A separate application must be completed for each phase. The deadline for applications to be received is Feb. 7.