For the 26th year, Amador County has been awarded funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services for the county's hungry, homeless and people in economic crisis. The county will receive a total of $10,000 for 2008.

The award to Amador County was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, consisting of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Council of Jewish Federation, Catholic Charities, USA National Council of Churches of Christ, and the United Way of America. The board was charted to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high need areas around the country.

The Amador County Local FEMA Board will meet on May 8 at 10 a.m. at the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency at 935 S. Highway 49 in Jackson to determine how the funds will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The Amador Local FEMA Board is responsible for recommending the agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

The board distributed $11,531 for shelters and food in 2007, with three local agencies receiving equal amounts. During 2007, the agencies provided more than 11,000 meals or bulk food to households and approximately 6,000 shelter bed nights. The board consists of members and agencies of the community from law enforcement, the Salvation Army, Interfaith Food Bank, American Red Cross, Amador County Social Services, A-TCAA and local faith-based organizations.

For more information, contact Beetle Barbour, Amador County local board staff person, at 533-1397 ext. 251.