Calvert food and shelter program officials hope for stimulus funds

Despite receiving more than $3,000 in additional federal funds this year for its emergency food and shelter programs, Calvert County's total still could fall short of last year's level.

The county's $27,490 grant from the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program exceeded the $24,101 Calvert received last year, according to figures on the program's Web site. However, it remains to be seen whether the county will again receive stimulus funding, said Jennifer Moreland, United Way of Calvert County director of Community and Resource Development.

In 2009, Calvert received $18,441 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, for a total of $42,542 for its food and shelter programs, Moreland said. She stressed that securing stimulus money still is possible.

News of last year's stimulus funding didn't come until June.

This year, Maryland was awarded $2.5 million in EFSP funding, down more than $100,000 from 2009. Calvert's portion of the 2010 funds ranked it 17th among the state's jurisdictions, including Baltimore city, according to EFSP figures.

Charles and St. Mary's counties received $46,666 and $38,902, respectively. Prince George's County received the largest amount, at $445,762.

Moreland said most of the funding will go toward restocking local food pantries and the Project ECHO homeless shelter, but that a portion will be used for utility and mortgage assistance.

"I think food is always a need and it's such a basic need, especially when you're dealing with families with children," Moreland said.

The program is overseen by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America.

The national board awards funds to qualifying jurisdictions, each of which has its own local board. Following an application process, the local boards decide how to disperse the money to local agencies.

Last year, the county's funding went to Catholic Charities, St. Anthony's Church Ladies of Charity, Project ECHO, SMILE Ecumenical Ministries, the Calvert Churches Community Food Pantry and Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry, Moreland said.