By Tim Leeds
A national board awarded Hill County nearly $10,000 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
The board, chaired by a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, distributed funds appropriated by Congress to supplement food and shelter capabilities in areas of high need. The Hill County FEMA Board will determine how to divide the funds among qualifying organizations that apply for the funds.
Diane Savesten of District IV Human Resources Development Council said the funds could go to virtually "any nonprofit group that serves people in need."
The requirements for groups that can receive the money are : it must be nonprofit or a unit of government, it must have an accounting system, must practice nondiscrimination, must have a volunteer board, and must have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and shelter.
The Hill County FEMA Board has distributed previous appropriations to the Salvation Army, North Havre Community Food Bank, Golden Triangle Mental Health Center, American Red Cross, and Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen. Those agencies provided more than 1,800 meals, 67 nights of lodging, and help with utility bills for 14 families in Hill County in 2001.
Organizations interested in receiving some of the appropiations need to send a letter stating the amount of money requested and the intended use of the money to Savesten at District IV HRDC, 2229 Fifth Ave., Havre MT 59501. The letters must be postmarked by Jan. 22.
