Meet CCS Staff At Open House Wednesday
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The celebration is hosted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.
CCS Executive Director Stephen Possell said the public can come in and take tours of the facility, see what the agency has been doing and meet with its employees to learn more about what they do.
The non-profit organization hasn’t had an open house since it moved from Prairie Street to its new location on Mariners Drive, he said.
“Primarily, funding comes from the United Way and individual donations,” he said.
CCS was founded in 1984 by the Warsaw Ministerial Association. “We still attend their monthly meetings,” he said.
“We still do food and utility assistance. People can check our website to see what all we do,” Possell later added.
The website is at www.combinedcommunityservices.org
Thirteen people are employed by CCS, with the Self Sufficiency department having four case workers. That department is funded in part by the United Way of Kosciusko County.
Tammy Smith is the director of the Self Sufficiency, which includes Project Independence and Hand-Up. She said she served 11 years at CCS, left for three years, and then returned about three years ago.
“Project Independence is focused on education and working with people who want to make that change in their life and get a degree,” Smith said.
CCS’s Self Sufficiency programs have been running for about 21 years, the longest such programs in the county, she said.
Currently, 42 families are in the Project Independence program, on a long-term basis.
Hand-Up provides guidance to those looking to make significant life changes such as securing employment or continuing education. The goal of the program is to bring stability to individuals experiencing a crisis. Smith said she currently has 20 in that program, and a person can be in the program for one to 1-1/2 years.
Before a client gets to Smith, they often seek out CCS Director of Client Assistance Peggi Lisenbee-Wright first. She is in charge of emergency assistance, which includes food, utility assistance, Christmas and the Tools for School program. She then may refer a client to Smith for more assistance.
Possell said this year CCS is seeking better funding for the Tools for School program because it sees so many children in need of school supplies.
While a larger facilities was needed, moving into the new building on Mariners Drive a couple of years ago increased CCS’s expenses, Possell stated. CCS is always in need of continued donations. It has many fundraisers throughout the year, but Wednesday’s open house will let the employees talk about what they do.
“We literally help thousands of people in Kosciusko County every year,” Possell said.
One of its fundraisers is tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Old Train Depot, 115 E. Market St., Pierceton. The Wine & Jazz evening will feature live entertainment, appetizers and a silent auction. The cost is $30 per person or $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the The Old Train Depot and CCS or calling 574-594-2090.
The annual Self Sufficiency fundraiser “Success Is In The Bag” is March 14 at 11 a.m. at The Old Train Depot. Tickets are $15 and include a luncheon and purse auction, Smith said. Handbags are still needed for the auction.
The goal of CCS for the next 30 years?
“To expand what we’re doing,” Possell said. “The goal is not to duplicate services across the county.”
Lisenbee-Wright said, “To spread the mission of Christ: to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and take care of our brothers and sisters.”
Along with the website, more information on CCS can be found through Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook, Lisenbee-Wright said.[[In-content Ad]]
The celebration is hosted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.
CCS Executive Director Stephen Possell said the public can come in and take tours of the facility, see what the agency has been doing and meet with its employees to learn more about what they do.
The non-profit organization hasn’t had an open house since it moved from Prairie Street to its new location on Mariners Drive, he said.
“Primarily, funding comes from the United Way and individual donations,” he said.
CCS was founded in 1984 by the Warsaw Ministerial Association. “We still attend their monthly meetings,” he said.
“We still do food and utility assistance. People can check our website to see what all we do,” Possell later added.
The website is at www.combinedcommunityservices.org
Thirteen people are employed by CCS, with the Self Sufficiency department having four case workers. That department is funded in part by the United Way of Kosciusko County.
Tammy Smith is the director of the Self Sufficiency, which includes Project Independence and Hand-Up. She said she served 11 years at CCS, left for three years, and then returned about three years ago.
“Project Independence is focused on education and working with people who want to make that change in their life and get a degree,” Smith said.
CCS’s Self Sufficiency programs have been running for about 21 years, the longest such programs in the county, she said.
Currently, 42 families are in the Project Independence program, on a long-term basis.
Hand-Up provides guidance to those looking to make significant life changes such as securing employment or continuing education. The goal of the program is to bring stability to individuals experiencing a crisis. Smith said she currently has 20 in that program, and a person can be in the program for one to 1-1/2 years.
Before a client gets to Smith, they often seek out CCS Director of Client Assistance Peggi Lisenbee-Wright first. She is in charge of emergency assistance, which includes food, utility assistance, Christmas and the Tools for School program. She then may refer a client to Smith for more assistance.
Possell said this year CCS is seeking better funding for the Tools for School program because it sees so many children in need of school supplies.
While a larger facilities was needed, moving into the new building on Mariners Drive a couple of years ago increased CCS’s expenses, Possell stated. CCS is always in need of continued donations. It has many fundraisers throughout the year, but Wednesday’s open house will let the employees talk about what they do.
“We literally help thousands of people in Kosciusko County every year,” Possell said.
One of its fundraisers is tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Old Train Depot, 115 E. Market St., Pierceton. The Wine & Jazz evening will feature live entertainment, appetizers and a silent auction. The cost is $30 per person or $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the The Old Train Depot and CCS or calling 574-594-2090.
The annual Self Sufficiency fundraiser “Success Is In The Bag” is March 14 at 11 a.m. at The Old Train Depot. Tickets are $15 and include a luncheon and purse auction, Smith said. Handbags are still needed for the auction.
The goal of CCS for the next 30 years?
“To expand what we’re doing,” Possell said. “The goal is not to duplicate services across the county.”
Lisenbee-Wright said, “To spread the mission of Christ: to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and take care of our brothers and sisters.”
Along with the website, more information on CCS can be found through Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook, Lisenbee-Wright said.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092