The Herald-News - News Story

FEMA has awarded Rhea County $25,056 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area during 2010, up from $23,290 in 2009.

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, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way of America, which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent.

Rhea County Council of Community Services, Inc., is the local board set up to distribute the FEMA funds. RCCCSI is made up of the Rhea County executive and representatives of the Rhea County United Way and several other local service agencies. 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.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local governmental or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be voluntary non-profits with 501(c)3 designations or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs in Rhea County, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.

Rhea County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Our Daily Bread, Haven House and the Food Pantry of Dayton. Last year, these agencies were responsible for providing 17,994 bags of groceries and 2,251 nights of lodging, compared to 20,223 bags of groceries and 2,244 nights of lodging in 2008.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Margaret Bott, secretary of the Rhea County Council of Community Services, Inc., at 365-5020. The deadline for applications is Feb. 16.