Itasca County Local Board Awards $66,355 in EFSP Funds

As part of its duties in administering the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in Itasca County, United Way recently brought together the Local Board to determine how to allocate the $66,355 in funding allocated to Itasca County by the federal program. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was created in 1983 to supplement the work of local service agencies providing critical and crisis prevention services. Funds are used to provide served meals or emergency groceries, lodging in shelters or hotels, emergency rent and mortgage assistance, foreclosure prevention, and utility assistance.

The Local Board, made up of representatives from local nonprofit, human service, and government agencies, meets annually to discuss challenges facing the community and review applications for funding. Agencies seeking funding must meet certain eligibility criteria, and specify what EFSP funds will be used for when applying.

Recent awards included $39,000 in CARES Act response funds to be used for meeting needs that have arisen due to COVID-19, in addition to the $27,355 allocated for Phase 37 of the program.

Organizations receiving grants from Phase 37 are Grace House ($7,500); Second Harvest Food Bank ($5,000); Community Café ($7,308); United Way of Northeast Minnesota’s Buddy Backpack Program ($3,000); The Salvation Army ($4,000). United Way of 1000 Lakes will receive an administrative allowance ($547).

Organizations receiving CARES Act funding are Grace House ($5,000); Second Harvest Food Bank ($5,000); Community Café ($5,000); United Way of Northeastern Minnesota ($5,000); The Salvation Army ($4,500); KOOTASCA Community Action ($13,720). United Way of 1000 Lakes will receive an administrative allowance of $780. CARES Act funding will be used to meet needs that have explicitly arisen due to COVID-19, such as rent assistance for those out of work, addressing nutrition barriers from rising costs, and providing safe, socially-distant shelter.

“United Way’s facilitation of EFSP funds has helped serve thousands of meals over the years,” stated John Weber, executive director of the Community Café. “We are incredibly fortunate to have an organization filled with people who are so dedicated to helping our community.”

For more information on services available to you and those you know, contact First Call / 211 by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone.

Are you interested in making decisions to help people in our community? United Way is searching for local leaders, especially those from the faith community, to join the EFSP Local Board. Call 218-999-7570 or email info@uwlakes.org to learn more.