MONROE -- United Way lags $350,000 behind in its Community Care Fund campaign, but a federal grant will boost its emergency food and shelter programs.

Individual agencies must apply to the United Way for a share of the money by Jan. 20.

The grant money — $135,562 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency — does not count toward United Way’s campaign.

It could, however, help the YWCA feed children — many underprivileged — this summer, YWCA coordinator Susan Rogers said.

Monroe’s two YWCA locations fed an average of 71 children each day the first part of last summer and an average of 81 children the second half of summer.

The locations now feed an average of 41 children each day, down from 62 children last winter. The YWCA lost $59,000 in United Way funding this year due to cutbacks, Rogers said.

For the past 10 years, the agency has been a “happy recipient” of FEMA

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funding, Rogers said. It received $3,000 last year and will ask for $5,000 this year to split between both locations.

The agency also received $500 from Second Harvest last year for its “kids cafe,” which serves a couple of hot meals a week and stocks backpacks with food for the weekend. It gave out 738 backpacks in December.

Each child in the youth program costs the agency $3,565, YWCA marketing director Farrah Lane said, including staff, educational materials, snacks and lunch during the summer, holidays and teacher workdays.

Other agencies, such as Crisis Assistance Ministry, are also eligible for grant money, which may be used for emergency rent money and other shelter purposes.

FEMA money often comes in two installments — one in winter and one in summer, said Richard Heins, United Way regional vice president. United Way received $116,000, then another $59,000 last year. Grant money is awarded based on a county’s well-being, such as the unemployment rate and anticipated job losses, he said.

To apply for grant money, contact the United Way office, located at 102 E. Franklin St. in Monroe or by calling 704-283-1537. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Jan. 20.

PULLOUT BOX

ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA FUNDS MUST:

- be a private, voluntary nonprofit (with a voluntary board) or a unit of government

- have an accounting system

- practice nondiscrimination

- demonstrate the capacity to deliver emergency food and shelter programs.