Penobscot County has been awarded $55,791 in Phase 39 and $172,436 in ARPA-R funds through the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement food and shelter programs in the county. EFSP is a program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, under the Department of Homeland Security.
A local board of volunteers will determine how the funds awarded to Penobscot County are to be distributed among local service agencies that provide emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The Local Board is responsible for overseeing the application process and recommending agencies to receive Phase 39 & ARPA-R EFSP funds.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must meet the following criteria: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
United Way of Eastern Maine administers this program for Penobscot County as a service to the community. Through EFSP, UWEM has helped award over $400,000 in emergency food and shelter funds over the past three years to area organizations to help serve clients across Penobscot County.
Applications can be found via unitedwayem.org/EFSP. Further information on the program may be obtained by contacting United Way of Eastern Maine at 941-2800 or grants@unitedwayem.org. The deadline for applications to be received is Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m.
Established in 1937, United Way of Eastern Mainemobilizes the caring power of people and communities throughout Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington counties to provide essential services and identify solutions, aimed at the root causes of the community’s most pressing needs. UWEM is focused on basic needs, substance use disorder and early child development through the Opportunity 2028 initiative. UWEM supported more than 109,000 people through their efforts in 2020-2021United Way of Eastern Maine is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Bangor. For more information on UWEM and our work visit http://www.unitewayem.org or call us at 207-941-2800.