CCS Hosts ‘Sleepout’ Fundraiser
September 28, 2016 at 5:42 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The not-for-profit organization is trying to make up that shortfall so it can continue serving its clients with utility assistance.
During the Winter Warmth Sleep Out from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Oct. 21 on the county courthouse lawn, CCS hopes to raise $30,000. As of Tuesday, it’s raised $6,511 of that goal, according to the event’s website at ccssleepout.com.
“We were funded $17,000 less this year than we were last year, so we’re trying to make that up. And one of the ways we’re trying to make that up is to get businesses to help us,” Steve Possell, CCS executive director, said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.
Another $10,000 was cut last year.
Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance, said that $17,000 could affect 136 families, based on the average amount CCS gives a family to have their utilities turned back on or make a payment.
Possell said churches help CCS with the winter warmth program with donations, but now CCS is trying to see if some businesses and school will get behind it and take part in the Sleep Out.
“Anybody that can raise any money,” he said.
KREMC has been a big help, Possell said.
“They’re donating some money toward this, and they’re going to have a group that sits out,” he said.
Lisenbee-Wright said people can bring a tent or a sleeping bag and box to the Oct. 21 Sleep Out.
To register for the event, or support someone who is already participating, she said they can visit the website at ccssleepout.com.
During the 12 hours, Possell said there will be prayer time, community social time and perhaps some light music.
“This is not for people who are homeless,” he said. It’s for people who need assistance to pay their NIPSCO and/or Kosciusko REMC bills so they have heat in the cold Indiana months.
Lisenbee-Wright said CCS often sees people who have to choose between things such as gas to get to work or their utility bills.
“That’s what we see. We see the working poor now,” she stated.
CCS has been “pretty blessed” with donations of food for its pantry, Possell said. “And with our upcoming fundraisers for food, we’re really trying to work on utilities this year.”
He later added that the food drives do really well.
Lisenbee-Wright said, “Funding sources change every year ... in five years it might be some other program that’s being cut, but right now, the need for emergency help is seen as more of a handout, and that’s not true. Seventy-three percent – and I?gave these numbers to the United Way –of my clients are working families, minimum wage jobs, where they were fine according to their definition of fine until dad got sick for a week, or the transmission fell out (of the car) or a huge utility bill came in.”
If a family gets their NIPSCO?bill shut off, Possell interjected, then it involves things like their credit rating to get it turned back on and a $600 deposit might be required.
He said he’s walked into a home before where the family was using its propane grill to heat the living room.
“I’ve had people last year, running five or six of those heaters, getting up three or four times a night because the circuits would blow. So, guess who didn’t sleep?” Lisenbee-Wright said.
“We’re never going to stop helping people,” she said.
Possell said CCS will end up eating the loss if they need to, but that won’t maintain the bottom line.
“One hundred percent of what you give is going directly to a utility,” Lisenbee-Wright said.
From November to early February, she said CCS works closely with the Energy Assistance Program to help almost 300 families.
For more information or questions, call John Parker, CCS utility and intake liaison, at 574-269-6019, Ext. 228.
Any donation is welcome, but $50 by Oct. 7 will guarantee the participant a T-shirt. Donations are non-refundable.
The not-for-profit organization is trying to make up that shortfall so it can continue serving its clients with utility assistance.
During the Winter Warmth Sleep Out from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Oct. 21 on the county courthouse lawn, CCS hopes to raise $30,000. As of Tuesday, it’s raised $6,511 of that goal, according to the event’s website at ccssleepout.com.
“We were funded $17,000 less this year than we were last year, so we’re trying to make that up. And one of the ways we’re trying to make that up is to get businesses to help us,” Steve Possell, CCS executive director, said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.
Another $10,000 was cut last year.
Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance, said that $17,000 could affect 136 families, based on the average amount CCS gives a family to have their utilities turned back on or make a payment.
Possell said churches help CCS with the winter warmth program with donations, but now CCS is trying to see if some businesses and school will get behind it and take part in the Sleep Out.
“Anybody that can raise any money,” he said.
KREMC has been a big help, Possell said.
“They’re donating some money toward this, and they’re going to have a group that sits out,” he said.
Lisenbee-Wright said people can bring a tent or a sleeping bag and box to the Oct. 21 Sleep Out.
To register for the event, or support someone who is already participating, she said they can visit the website at ccssleepout.com.
During the 12 hours, Possell said there will be prayer time, community social time and perhaps some light music.
“This is not for people who are homeless,” he said. It’s for people who need assistance to pay their NIPSCO and/or Kosciusko REMC bills so they have heat in the cold Indiana months.
Lisenbee-Wright said CCS often sees people who have to choose between things such as gas to get to work or their utility bills.
“That’s what we see. We see the working poor now,” she stated.
CCS has been “pretty blessed” with donations of food for its pantry, Possell said. “And with our upcoming fundraisers for food, we’re really trying to work on utilities this year.”
He later added that the food drives do really well.
Lisenbee-Wright said, “Funding sources change every year ... in five years it might be some other program that’s being cut, but right now, the need for emergency help is seen as more of a handout, and that’s not true. Seventy-three percent – and I?gave these numbers to the United Way –of my clients are working families, minimum wage jobs, where they were fine according to their definition of fine until dad got sick for a week, or the transmission fell out (of the car) or a huge utility bill came in.”
If a family gets their NIPSCO?bill shut off, Possell interjected, then it involves things like their credit rating to get it turned back on and a $600 deposit might be required.
He said he’s walked into a home before where the family was using its propane grill to heat the living room.
“I’ve had people last year, running five or six of those heaters, getting up three or four times a night because the circuits would blow. So, guess who didn’t sleep?” Lisenbee-Wright said.
“We’re never going to stop helping people,” she said.
Possell said CCS will end up eating the loss if they need to, but that won’t maintain the bottom line.
“One hundred percent of what you give is going directly to a utility,” Lisenbee-Wright said.
From November to early February, she said CCS works closely with the Energy Assistance Program to help almost 300 families.
For more information or questions, call John Parker, CCS utility and intake liaison, at 574-269-6019, Ext. 228.
Any donation is welcome, but $50 by Oct. 7 will guarantee the participant a T-shirt. Donations are non-refundable.
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