SYRACUSE - In July, Combined Community Services announced the shutdown of the Syracuse branch by Aug. 30.

By Tuesday, the faith-based charitable organization had found the wherewithal to stay open on a limited basis through the end of September.

The Syracuse-Webster Ministers' Association, which has always supported CCS' presence in Syracuse at 612 S. Huntington St., is committed to seeking out cost-effective options to continue providing CCS services.

"It's not the rent," CCS-North director Ron Wright said of the facility's financial woes, "it is the cost of utilities and personnel."

Besides Wright, there are two full-time employees. Their hours will be cut.

There is no air conditioning in the building, which made for a uncomfortably hot summer. In the winter, the heater "runs constantly."

Since the building is scheduled for demolition to make room for another facility in the future, the Muncie-based investment group that owns the property has no plans to make major improvements.

Jim Coons, CCS executive director, said limiting hours to Monday and Tuesday of each week from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. should cut costs considerably and enable the thrift shop and food pantry to stay open.

CCS-North was expected to provide services to 30 percent of CCS' client load - specifically, Turkey Creek, Tippecanoe and Van Buren township residents.

A number of factory layoffs at the end of 2001 resulted in a deluge of requests for assistance. That number has leveled off at 9 percent.

CCS-North has 60 clients now, and about 10 new people a month are assisted.

Wright said on a recent customer satisfaction survey, mailed to past clients, 30 postcards were returned for insufficient addresses. He thinks many families may have moved from the area to seek employment elsewhere.

"We don't just hand out stuff," Wright said. "Giving people food does not solve their problems."

Identifying problems and providing counseling and resources sets people on the path to greater success, and that takes a social services professional.

Volunteers who help on a consistent basis are needed to the tune of 300 hours a week, Wright said. The most help they've ever received has been 60 hours a week.

When Wright makes presentations to church groups, he said, folks always say they'll help.

"I never see them again," he said, "at least not here."

It takes time to sort through cans and boxes of food items and inspect articles of clothing for wearability.

"It's extremely labor intensive," Coons said. "Two full-time volunteers could be used. But it's not as simple as that, they also must have a heart for the poor and afflicted."

SWMA president Lorne McCune and treasurer Harlan Steffan attended Tuesday's press conference.

SWMA and CCS are technically not partners. However, the ministerial association has always provided support.

"Somehow there has been a breakdown in communication," Steffan said. "It seems like the problem developed all of a sudden."

"We'll assist the needy in our community to the very best of our ability," McCune, minister at Wawasee Heights Baptist Church, said. "The hours are changing, yes, but help remains available. We'll see to that."

CCS in Warsaw is at 110 E. Prairie St. For more information about services, call 269-6019. [[In-content Ad]]