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West Ocean City Homeless Shelter Seeks Funds

WEST OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) -- A homeless shelter in West Ocean City is seeking financial help from a local council to meet a growing demand for services.

Representatives of the Diakonia shelter are asking the Berlin Council for a $7,500 donation for the coming budget year. Shelter officials say donations have declined due to the economy, while the need for shelter and food services has grown.

Officials say Diakonia has been at or above capacity since January 2010.

Diakonia board member Joel Todd says the shelter provides more help to Berlin residents than Ocean City residents. He says Ocean City typically gives the shelter $28,000 a year.

Berlin Mayor Gee Williams says the shelter's request comes at a good time because the town is in the midst of the budget process.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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