Times Staff Report

MUNSTER | Monday is the deadline to submit an application to the Munster Civic Foundation to claim a share in the money the foundation has collected for Munster flood victims.

As of Wednesday, the foundation had collected $204,347. Distribution should be made the second week of December. The application is on the Web site at www.munster. org.

Diane Kitchell, chair of the executive committee, said 100 percent of the funds will be distributed to flood victims. Each household will receive an equal amount. She said none of the money will be used to pay for overhead expenses of the foundation.

"I am overwhelmed by the stories that people have written down on their applications," she said. "My own aunt was affected by the floods and is still living with us. I live about a block and a half from where the flood waters were at. My heart goes out to them."

Meanwhile, the board of directors opted not to participate in formulating the method of fund distribution. Instead, the members of the executive committee of the Munster Civic Foundation and other interested members of the community were asked to determine how to distribute the money.

The criteria calls for applicants to reside in Munster, have registered with FEMA, and have losses from the flood in excess of insurance coverage and/or FEMA grants.

The Munster Civic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a board of directors who are the Munster Town Council. As clerk-treasurer for the town of Munster, Dave Shafer is the secretary-treasurer of the foundation. Its president is David Nellans. The foundation does not pay its directors or officers, and it has no paid employees.

Shafer said Peoples Bank has been very generous in providing a free checking account used exclusively to collect funds for flood relief and for providing free administrative assistance. The foundation also will distribute a limited number of gift certificates donated by Munster Jewel food store employees.