One Program’s Loss Is a Gain for Others

An extra $10,400 in federal grants, made available when a food program run by Councilwoman Kathryn McCullough was declared ineligible, was passed out to nonprofit groups on Tuesday.

The council distributed the funding to eight of the 17 service organizations that were recently awarded federal Community Development Block Grants by the city.

The largest awards were given to Laura’s House, a refuge for victims of domestic violence, which saw its grant increase from $1,750 to $3,950, and Saddleback Community Outreach, a nonprofit group for the poor, which will receive $12,000, up from $10,000.

Federal CDBG officials had considered it a conflict of interest for McCullough to serve on the council and receive funding as chief executive of the Adopt-A-Neighbor food program. Rather than lose the funding, last month McCullough declared her intention to resign from the council.

However, an outpouring of community support raised over $19,000 for the food bank and McCullough was able to stay on the council. She also removed Adopt-A-Neighbor for consideration for the CDBG grant.

Councilman Peter Herzog, who made the original motion to disburse the $10,400, said he wanted to help organizations with self-help programs.

“If you can help people get back on their feet, that’s what I’d like to see the money go for,” he said.

Other groups receiving additional funds included the Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force, Episcopal Service Alliance (ESA) Anchor House, ESA Martha House, ESA Beacon House, YWCA Shelter for Women and the Dayle MacIntosh Center for the Disabled.