BY MIRANDA STOKES

Staff Writer

During the Wetzel County Commission’s Sept. 6 meeting, Janna Torgerson, captain of the Salvation Army and chair of the Emergency Food and Shelter Fund, addressed the commission regarding the reduction of a federal grant several local agencies depend on to help Wetzel County citizens.

Six agencies in the county receive funds through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. However, Torgerson shared with the commission that this year the county, along with counties all across the country, will receive funds at a 40 percent reduction of previous funds.

“Many agencies depend on these funds to continue operations to keep families fed and housed who may otherwise become homeless,” Torgerson stated in a letter to the commission. “In these rough economic times, the need for agencies to feed, hand out food boxes, help with utility bills and rent is greater than ever.”

With this in mind, Torgerson appeared before the commission on behalf of several organizations requesting funds of $500 each, totaling $3,000, from the commission to offset the reduction of EFSP funds for the 2011 fiscal year.

Torgerson added this was a one-time request to the commission.

The commission took the matter under consideration and voted during their Sept. 13 meeting to provide the funds requested.

The six agencies to receive additional funding from the commission include Community Resources, Inc., Helping Hand Food Pantry, Hundred United Methodist Church (WE CARE), New Martinsville Church of God, Open Door Ministries, Inc., and the Salvation Army.