Bryan County has received $4,700 in federal funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area. And now begins the process of determining how the money will be distributed among emergency food and shelter programs of local service agencies.
To make that decision, a board of representatives from local service agencies, like American Red Cross, Bryan County Family Connection, United Way of the Coastal Empire and others, will be responsible for recommending agencies to receive the funds and any additional funds that may become available.
The funds come from the State Set-Aside process under Phase 29 of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. Under the terms of the National Board, local government or private voluntary organizations chosen to receive funds must be non-profit, must have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit, must practice nondiscrimination, must have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and  must have a volunteer board if it is a private volunteer organization.
Qualifying organizations wishing to distribute emergency assistance has from Oct. 8-15 to contact local FEMA Board chairman Tonya Raulerson at 653-4413.