The Emergency Food and Shelter National Program has notified Douglas County officials that local charitable organizations have received $59,279 to provide mass shelter, mass feeding and food distribution to their clients, according to the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross.

Organizations can also use the funds to make one-month utility payments, rent or mortgage payments or to assist people in shelters with stable living conditions.

The supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens and food banks comes from the EFS national board, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and several national charitable organizations. Those organizations include the Red Cross, The Salvation Army and The United Way of America.

Any area agencies that want to participate in the new funding cycle can contact Jane Blocher, executive director of the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross and chairwoman of the Douglas County EFS program, at 843-3550. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Feb. 4.