BROOKINGS — Brookings County has been chosen to receive $8,509 for Phase 41 from the Emergency Food and Shelter Programs.

The selection was made 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 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.

A local board is made up of Brookings Area United Way, Brookings County Food Pantry, Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, Red Cross and other local participants. It will determine how the funds awarded to Brookings County will be 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. Brookings County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Brookings Food Pantry, Interlakes Community Action Partnership, My Neighbor and Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter participating.

Agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Heidi Gullickson, local board chair, at 605-692-4979. The deadline for receiving applications is April 18.