Wilson Announces Over $2.2 Million in Funding for SC Emergency Food and Shelter Programs

Today, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) announced that South Carolina counties have been awarded $2,207,589.00 by the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program. "I am very pleased that South Carolina will have the funds to help those in need throughout our communities," said Congressman Wilson. "South Carolinians should also be reminded during Christmas season that we must help our neighbors, and I encourage them to volunteer and donate to help local charities."The EFS State Set-Aside Committee may make additional funds available at a later date. The EFS National Board, chaired by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and composed of representatives from the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities USA; United Jewish Communities; National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; and United Way of America, provides supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance program. The funds are used to help individuals and families with non-disaster, temporary financial emergency needs.In each jurisdiction funded, a Local Board advertises the availability of the funds, establishes local priorities, selects local non-profit and government agencies to receive supplemental funding, and monitors program compliance. The Local Board's composition mirrors the EFS National Board, with a local government official selected by members of the Local Board replacing FEMA as the chair.The EFS Program has been existence since 1983 and was authorized under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The EFS Program has distributed more than $2.4 billion in communities nationwide, and has accounted for millions of additional meals and nights of shelter to those people most in need of such help.**(FUNDS LISTED BY COUNTY ON NEXT PAGE)**###For a listing of the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Local Board contacts in particular jurisdictions or for more information, please call the EFS National Board staff at (703) 706-9660, or FEMA's Office of Legislative Affairs at (202) 646-4500.Emergency Food and Shelter Program FY04 - "Phase 22" - State AllocationsSOUTH CAROLINAAbbeville County $22,316 Aiken County $61,248 Anderson County $101,735Bamberg County $8,049 Barnwell County $18,634 Berkeley County $51,349 Calhoun County $8,919 Charleston County $129,732Cherokee County $39,710 Chester County $38,211 Chesterfield County $32,974 Clarendon County $19,596 Colleton County $19,725 Darlington County $45,002 Dillon County $24,351 Edgefield County $7,457 Fairfield County $23,870 Florence County $88,227 Georgetown County $52,163 Greenville County $163,946Greenwood County $60,915 Hampton County $13,915 Horry County $96,054 Jasper County $8,456 Kershaw County $32,993 Lancaster County $46,223 Laurens County $50,275 Lee County $13,600 McCormick County $10,196 Marion County $37,378 Marlboro County $31,623 Newberry County $24,185 Oconee County $40,246 Orangeburg County $84,156 Pickens County $58,806 Richland County $125,124Saluda County $9,400 Spartanburg County $164,075Sumter County $63,395 Union County $31,235 Williamsburg County $41,190 York County $126,919 State Set-Aside Committee, SC $80,016 South Carolina Total $2,207,589