Santa Cruz County has been chosen to receive $18,377 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

These funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) are in addition to $37,781 awarded to the county earlier this year by a national board chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The board comprises representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A; The Salvation Army; United Jewish Communities and United Way of America.

A local board made up of United Way, several faith-based agencies, emergency-aid agencies, and community members, will determine how the funds are distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies. 

Santa Cruz County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously to the Amado Food Bank, Borderland Food bank, Crossroads Mission, Catholic Community Services Women’s Shelter, SouthEastern Arizona Community Action Program (SEACAP), Child and Family Resources, Nogales Fire Fighter Association and Santa Cruz Council on Aging. These agencies are responsible for providing a combined total of 4,653 meals and 1,235 nights of lodging.

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 non-discrimination; 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. 

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for the latest funding must contact Andrea Lopez at (520) 761-1840, or uwscc@qwestoffice.net. The deadline for the application is May 26 at 5 p.m.