Special to The Hays Daily News

Ellis County has been awarded federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Ellis County has been selected to receive $9,554 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Sue Rouse at the United Way of Ellis County, 718 Main Street, Suite 206, Hays, KS, 67601, or call (785) 628-8281 for an application. Or, e-mail unitedway@media-net.net for an online application. Completed applications must be returned to the United Way office by Feb. 5.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; and United Way of America. The board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in the high-need areas around the country.

A Local Board made up of representatives of the Ellis County Commission, city of Hays, the Salvation Army, First Call for Help, Catholic Charities, Community Assistance Center, Area Agency on Aging, Northwest Kansas Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Inc., the Ellis County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Ellis County Ministerial Alliance, Living Independently in Northwest Kansas, Ellis County Emergency Management and the United Way of Ellis County will determine how the funds awarded to Ellis County are to 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 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 or shelter programs; and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Ellis County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter fund previously with First Call for Help, Salvation Army and the Northwest Kansas Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Inc. participating.