Kendall County awarded federal grant to supplement emergency food, shelter programs

Kendall County Health Department has been awarded a $62,403 federal grant to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

A national board chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency with representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, U.S.A.; National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A; The Salvation Army; United Jewish Communities and United Way of America selected the health department to receive the grant.

The national board was previously charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

According to the health department, a local board will determine how the grant funds will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs funded by local service agencies in the area. The local board will be responsible for recommending agencies to receive the funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits 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 and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for emergency food and shelter program funds must contact Diane Alford, director of community action services, Kendall County Health Department at 630-553-9100 for an application. The deadline for application to be received is Jan 15.