Tools for School Seeking Donations

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


The mission statement of Combined Community Services is “Combining community services to provide comfort, hope and resources for neighbors in need.”

For this year’s Tools For School program, CCS is practicing its mission by partnering with the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Tools For School provides school supplies like crayons, glue and backpacks to children who otherwise might not be able to get them because of financial need.

The giveaway date of Tools For School is Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. at the Home & Family Arts Building at the Kosciusko County fairgrounds, according to Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance.

Kim Komdeur, American Red Cross operations director, said the Red Cross, in conjunction with American Home Front, a Dollar Tree initiative, will provide school supplies for free to the Red Cross. The Red Cross wanted to partner with CCS to get those supplies out.

The hope of Operation Home Front, said Komdeur, is to serve military families, but it can go beyond that.

In 2011, Lisenbee-Wright said the Tools For School program served about 1,500 children.

CCS Volunteer Coordinator Ami Pitt said she can gauge how big a need will be for the Tools For School program by how the toy drive for Christmas went. They’re only six months apart. The toy drive served about 1,700 children, and Pitt said there will probably be more kids in need for Tools For School.

“Our programs only work because the community is so supportive,” said Lisenbee-Wright.

Many businesses and other services agencies support CCS’s annual school supplies initiative.

Fiesta provides free hair cuts to children. Last year, Pitt said, well more than 100 children got hair cuts. The Fiesta staff worked all day long and provided their own equipment.

This year, DARE officers will meet and greet children in line for the school supplies.

“We’re partnering with several agencies in the county to provide information on their services, including the Hoosier Healthwise program,” Lisenbee-Wright said.

Pitt said the Fraternal Order of Police has generously donated to Tools For School.

“We’re opening the door to any churches to inform about any after-school or weekly children’s programs they may have,” said Pitt.

If a church wants to hand out information Aug. 8, Pitt said they can contact her at 574-265-4179.

“We’re always open to brilliant ideas,” Pitt said.

Komdeur said the Red Cross will be there to promote its Survivor Camp, Scrubby Bear and other youth programming.

Monetary donations are especially needed for the program this year, Lisenbee-Wright said. Donations may be dropped off at CCS, 1195 Mariners Drive, Warsaw.

“We definitely need the funding,” she said.

Tools For School is for Kosciusko County residents with school children.

Lisenbee-Wright said CCS also will have school clothing the week school starts for those who need it.[[In-content Ad]]

The mission statement of Combined Community Services is “Combining community services to provide comfort, hope and resources for neighbors in need.”

For this year’s Tools For School program, CCS is practicing its mission by partnering with the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Tools For School provides school supplies like crayons, glue and backpacks to children who otherwise might not be able to get them because of financial need.

The giveaway date of Tools For School is Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. at the Home & Family Arts Building at the Kosciusko County fairgrounds, according to Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance.

Kim Komdeur, American Red Cross operations director, said the Red Cross, in conjunction with American Home Front, a Dollar Tree initiative, will provide school supplies for free to the Red Cross. The Red Cross wanted to partner with CCS to get those supplies out.

The hope of Operation Home Front, said Komdeur, is to serve military families, but it can go beyond that.

In 2011, Lisenbee-Wright said the Tools For School program served about 1,500 children.

CCS Volunteer Coordinator Ami Pitt said she can gauge how big a need will be for the Tools For School program by how the toy drive for Christmas went. They’re only six months apart. The toy drive served about 1,700 children, and Pitt said there will probably be more kids in need for Tools For School.

“Our programs only work because the community is so supportive,” said Lisenbee-Wright.

Many businesses and other services agencies support CCS’s annual school supplies initiative.

Fiesta provides free hair cuts to children. Last year, Pitt said, well more than 100 children got hair cuts. The Fiesta staff worked all day long and provided their own equipment.

This year, DARE officers will meet and greet children in line for the school supplies.

“We’re partnering with several agencies in the county to provide information on their services, including the Hoosier Healthwise program,” Lisenbee-Wright said.

Pitt said the Fraternal Order of Police has generously donated to Tools For School.

“We’re opening the door to any churches to inform about any after-school or weekly children’s programs they may have,” said Pitt.

If a church wants to hand out information Aug. 8, Pitt said they can contact her at 574-265-4179.

“We’re always open to brilliant ideas,” Pitt said.

Komdeur said the Red Cross will be there to promote its Survivor Camp, Scrubby Bear and other youth programming.

Monetary donations are especially needed for the program this year, Lisenbee-Wright said. Donations may be dropped off at CCS, 1195 Mariners Drive, Warsaw.

“We definitely need the funding,” she said.

Tools For School is for Kosciusko County residents with school children.

Lisenbee-Wright said CCS also will have school clothing the week school starts for those who need it.[[In-content Ad]]
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