$201,084 federal grant awarded to emergency food and shelter programs in Winnebago County

Online Staff Report

Several organizations in Winnebago County will share a federal grant totaling $201,084 designated for local emergency food and shelter programs.

The grant was allocated through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for non-profit and governmental agencies to supplement programs that help hungry and homeless people.

The program’s local agent, United Way of Rock River Valley, is administering funding and reporting of the EFSP grant. A local board, whose membership composition is mandated through federal guidelines, recommended distribution of the grant.

This year, several programs in Winnebago County will benefit from the award. Funds available this year are less than the previous years and are based on the local unemployment census. Allocation of the grant is as follows:

• Lifescape Community Services, Inc. — $33,200 for mobile meals

• St. Elizabeth Community Center — $9,296 for its food pantry

• The Rock River Valley Food Pantry — $16,600

• The Salvation Army — $6,640 for its food pantry and $9,960 for utilities

• Rockford Rescue Mission — $13,280 for its mass shelter

• City of Rockford Human Services — $6,640 for hotel lodging

• Remedies Renewing Lives — $36,250 for its mass shelter

• Rockford MELD — $19,920 for its mass shelter

• Shelter Care Ministries — $19,920 for hotel lodging

• Rockford Life Center — $9,326 for its food pantry

• United Way of Rock River Valley — $3,846 for administration

Last year, the EFSP grant to Winnebago County totaled $303,109. Local agencies used the funds to provide 27,500 home-delivered meals, food pantry items to 144,812 individuals, utility assistance for 320 individuals and 9,113 nights of emergency lodging.