The United Way of Southeast Georgia has announced that a total of $116,274 in funding from FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) has been awarded to seven local organizations.
United Way of Southeast Georgia administers the funds locally for the FEMA-funded program. Carey Cassedy, Executive Director for United Way, and representatives of other organizations serve as the local board for EFSP.
Board members include Linda James of The Salvation Army (chair), Beth Kadlec of the St. Matthew Catholic Church, Debbie Vives of the Statesboro Food Bank, Delia Mobley of Open Hearts, Jonathan McCollar of the City of Statesboro, Maria Center of the American Red Cross, and Mary Jane Crouch of America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia.
Applications were submitted by the local EFSP board, and the awards are as follows:
- Open Hearts Community Mission (Temporary shelter): $10,000
- Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch (Diapers and feminine supplies): $8,000
- Citizens Against Violence (Shelter): $35,838
- America's Second Harvest of Coastal GA (Food): $20,000
- Feed the Boro (Food): $11,824
- The Salvation Army (Rent, Mortgage and Utilities): $28,287
- United Way of Southeast Georgia (Administrative): $2,325
Currently, the funding is in Phases 39, ARAP-R, and 40. Funds are determined by local unemployment rates. Bulloch County was allocated funds in Phase 39 ($21,870), Phase ARAP-R ($67,594), and 40 ($26,810) for the total of $116,274. The spending period for the organizations is 11/1/2021-12/31/23, and these funds are used as reimbursements.
"Since United Way and the local board began administering EFSP in 2020, we have distributed $212,105 for emergency food and shelter to Bulloch County residents," Cassedy said.
More about EFSP
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is a FEMA-funded program authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The program supplements and expands ongoing work of local nonprofit and governmental social service organizations to provide shelter, food and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, hunger and/or homelessness.
The program may also receive funding to award to the National Board for distribution to local social service organizations that provide humanitarian relief to families and individuals encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS Appropriations Act of 2023 appropriated $130 million to FEMA, which in turn awards the money to the EFSP National Board to support local social service organizations aiding our nation’s hungry and homeless.
