A $24,000 grant has been expended to Webster Parish to organizations that provide emergency food and shelter.
Mary Whitaker, executive director of the Webster Parish Office of Community Services, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted this one-time supplemental funding for organizations such as the Council on Aging, United Christian Assistance Program and others to assist those in need.
“These are for organizations that provide families with emergency food, emergency shelter, homeless prevention,” she said. “These are supplemental funds. It’s not much money; one organization might get $1,000 or another might get $2,000.”
She said this money has nothing to do with the 2016 floods, reiterating it is for the organizations that already provide emergency food and shelter assistance.
The grant is through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which sets aside additional money to help organizations provide services. OCS is a component of the Webster Parish Police Jury, and OCS, through FEMA, will administer the funds for the parish.
Whitaker said grant applications are due Tuesday, Aug. 15, and the FEMA EFSP board will meet at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17 to select agencies for the grant.