NATCHEZ — Linda Faye Blanton spent many of her working years as the overnight manager at a center for battered women.

It was a stressful job but a rewarding one. Now 65, she is retired and lives on a small retirement check and Social Security. Her home is a modest wood-frame structure, where she lives with and cares for her disabled granddaughter.

Her monthly fixed income wasn’t enough to finance the roof replacement she needed, so when Blanton saw an advertisement in the newspaper about the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP), she decided to apply.

“My roof had been on there for 19 years, and it was bad,” Blanton said. “It hadn’t started leaking yet, but it was about to start. When the wind blew, a lot of shingles would blow onto the ground.”

Blanton qualified for a $4,250 SNAP grant from Concordia Bank & Trust and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas).

SNAP grants are offered by FHLB Dallas through its member institutions, like Concordia Bank & Trust. The program provides grants to assist income-qualified, special-needs homeowners with necessary home repairs and modifications.

After the work was done, the house looked liked it had received a much-needed facelift.

“Everyone on the street talked about how wonderful it looks,” Mrs. Blanton said.

“We have had plenty of rain since the new roof went on, and we haven’t had any leaks.”

Glynn Laird, senior vice president at Concordia Bank & Trust, said the bank appreciates the opportunity to partner with the city of Natchez and FHLB Dallas on SNAP.

“The people receiving these grants are so appreciative of the work,” he said. “We are happy to be a part of it.”

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said SNAP reaches residents who need a helping hand.

“SNAP is there as a safety net and has done a lot of good in our community, helping people in need,” he said.

Since SNAP’s inception in 2009, nearly $9.2 million has been awarded in grants through FHLB Dallas member institutions to assist 1,846 families across FHLB Dallas’ five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.

“FHLB Dallas is pleased to support communities served by our members,” said Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

“We realize there is a tremendous need for the type of specialized assistance that SNAP provides, and we are honored to be a catalyst for positive change.”