LAPLACE — More than $27,000 is available for local organizations to expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact John Olynick at St. John United Way at 985-651-9118 by Aug. 15 for an application.

The deadline for the completed application to be submitted is noon Sept. 1.

Awarded through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program, the fund balance supplements existing emergency food and shelter programs in the parish, according to Greg Maurin, St John United Way board member and local Emergency Food and Shelter Board chairman.

The local board has $27,183 to distribute — approximately 7 percent more than last year’s award.

St. John United Way serves as fiscal monitor and local contact.

Olynick, executive director of the St. John United Way, said the funds are awarded exclusively to local organizations that are equipped and have demonstrated the ability to meet parish emergency food and shelter needs.

The Local Emergency Food and Shelter National Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive the funds.

Local agencies chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary non-profit or units of government, be eligible to receive federal funds, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs and, if private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board.