Supporting families and ensuring children are ready to succeed when they enter school, as well as beyond.
* 16% of children in Androscoggin County live in poverty.

A Dynamic Community:
Promoting, supporting, enhancing independence and self-sufficiency
* 49% of local residents cannot read higher than a sixth grade level.

Meeting Basic Needs:
Ensuring individuals and families have food, shelter, clothing and access to services that promote physical and mental well-being.
* 60 people in our community are homeless on any given night.

Life-Long Learning:
Promoting opportunities for job training, education, collaboration and volunteerism.
* In 2004, 200 high school students in our county dropped out of school.

Advocating that individuals and families are safe and protected at all times
* Over 3,000 crimes were committed in Androscoggin County last year.

UNITED WAY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY RECEIVES EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM FUNDS

United Way of Androscoggin County was chosen to receive $61,516 from the Emergency Food and Shelter National Program (EFSP).
The selection was made by the National Board of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in USA and United Way of America, which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent.  The Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A local board will review how the funds awarded to Androscoggin County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profit organizations or units of government; 2) have an accounting system; 3) practice non-discrimination; 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and; 5) have a voluntary board of directors if a private voluntary organization.  Qualifying organizations are urged to apply.

The United Way distributed EFSP funds in 2007 to Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, High Street Food Pantry, L/A Area Development Corporation, Sisters of Charity Food Pantry, Trinity Jubilee Center, CCM St. Francis House, Hope Haven Gospel Mission, New Beginnings, Rural Community Action Ministry, St. Martin de Porres Residence and the Salvation Army.

Public or private organizations interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must download application and instructions from the United Way website: www.unitedwayandro.org. For more information, contact Larry Marcoux, Dir. Community Impact, 207.795.4000 at the United Way office.  The application deadline is March 21, 2008.  Award decisions will be made based on availability of funds.