Submitted by Ruth Cavins, United Way of Payne County
Payne County has been chosen to receive $24,819 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The source of funding is a federal appropriation from Congress to the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP).
The National Board selects jurisdictions (cities or counties) for funding. The Federal Department responsible for this program is the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the FEMA and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches in Christ USA, and United Way.
The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs. The local board includes Paulette Graham, The Salvation Army; Jana Nelson, Mission of Hope; Dana Mattox, City of Stillwater; Rachael Condley, Our Daily Bread; Brandi White, Wings of Hope; Janet Fultz, Payne County Youth Services; Clem Ward, Catholic Charities; Mathew Hitchcock, American Red Cross; Audra Farrow, homeless liaison; and Ruth Cavins, United Way of Payne County. The group will determine how the funds awarded to Payne 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 made available through this 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,
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, they must have a voluntary board,
must be eligible to receive federal funds, and
must have a DUNS number.
Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
Within Payne County, the EFSP has distributed $830,490 in Emergency Food and Shelter funds since 1984. Last year the county received $25,020. The funds were distributed to The Salvation Army and Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency for housing/utility assistance, and to Payne County Youth Services and Mission of Hope for mass shelter expenses.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds may submit an online application at https://www.unitedwaypaynecounty.org/webform/efsp_application by February 6, 2025. For more information, contact local board chair, Ruth Cavins, at United Way of Payne County, 405-377-2161. Funding applications will be reviewed by the local board at a public meeting on February 13, 2025.
