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LAPLACE — Federal money is available in St. John the Baptist Parish to supplement existing emergency food and shelter programs, St. John United Way board member and Local Emergency Food and Shelter Board Chairman Greg Maurin announced this week.

Maurin said federal partners notified the Board it has been awarded $56,774 to be distributed to local agencies. St. John United Way serves as fiscal monitor and local contact for the program.

St. John United Way Executive Director Artis Williams said the funds are awarded exclusively to local organizations that have demonstrated the ability to operate programs that meet emergency food and shelter needs of parish residents.

The Local Emergency Food and Shelter Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive the funds, and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.

Agencies interested in applying for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Williams at St. John United Way at 985-651-9118 by May 15 for an application. The deadline for the completed application is May 22.

The federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board program.

Local agencies chosen to participate must:

• Be private voluntary non-profit or units of government
• Be eligible for federal funds
• Have an accounting system
• Practice nondiscrimination
• Have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food or shelter programs
• If private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board.