FARMINGTON – Franklin County has been awarded $18,011 in federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The program is administered locally by the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area and is governed by a local board that includes representatives of local churches, government agencies, food banks, homeless people and the Tri-Valley United Way.

The local board will determine how the funds awarded to Franklin County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive the funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

The award for Franklin County was made by the national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and the United Way of America, which provides administrative staff and functions as the fiscal agent.

The 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 organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits 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 organizations are encouraged to apply.

In past years, Franklin County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds with the town of Carthage, the Phillips Shared Ministry, the town of Eustis, the Tri-Town Ministerial Association, the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, the Care and Share Food Closet, the Rangeley Community Food Pantry, the Salvation Army, the Wilton Area Food Pantry, the United Methodist Economic Ministry and the Wilton Area Food Pantry.

Funding enabled the organizations to provide 12,102 meals to people and families in Franklin County from October 2005 to September 2006.

Public or private voluntary organizations interested in applying for funds must contact Executive Director Nancy Morgan at the Tri-Valley United Way office at 232 Broadway, P.O. Box 126, Farmington, ME 04938 or call 778-5048. The deadline for applications is Feb. 12.