Richmond County has been chosen to receive $41,835 from a national board chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency to supplement the county’s emergency food and shelter programs.

United Way Director Michelle Parrish said this money has been coming to Richmond County for several years.

“This is a big deal to get these extra funds in the community, especially for agencies with extra need because of the economy and with donations being down,” Parrish said. “This money helps all of these agencies serve the community in a different capacity.”

Parrish said she’s waiting on a package to come from that national board before gathering the local board, which is separate from her United Way board, to begin going over applications for the funding.

The board charged with allocating these funds in the community is made up of a member from the Emergency Food and Shelter board, Amy Hamilton Forester; a member of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Sharon Harris; a member of the Salvation Army, representative from Asheboro, Capt. Curtis Kratz; American Red Cross representative, Pam Park; homeless representative, Lynwood Floyd, United Jewish Communities representative, Steve Daskal; Marchell Adams-David, Monty Crump and Tiffanee Conrad-Acuna with the Cooperative Extension, and Parrish.

Parrish said there’s no limit to the number of organizations they can allocate the money to, but they must meet the following criteria: Be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.

Parrish said the amount of money received this year is less than last year’s $45,241. She said the amount received from the government is based on an area’s unemployment rate and community needs.

“It’s a huge amount of money for these agencies that receive this money,” Parrish said. “Especially for ones like Back Pack Pals and Our Daily Bread, it’s all about how many more mouths they can feed. Every little bit helps.”

Previous recipients of this money include New Horizons Life and Family Services, Samaritan Colony, Richmond County Mental Health Society, Our Daily Bread, Southern Mission Ministries, Helping Hands of Hamlet - Back Pack Pals, and Outreach for Jesus-Unlimited.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Parrish at (910) 997-2173 for an application, or at P.O. Box 153, Rockingham, N.C. 28380.

The deadline for applications to be received is Tuesday, March 16. Parrish said she hopes to have the board meet and funds allocated by the end of March.

Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.