Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, potatoes, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables - any nonperishable food products are needed to replenish Combined Community Services' food banks.
The "neighbors helping neighbors" organization is in dire straits and asks the community for monetary and other donations.
"Anything would be appreciated," said Darlene Redinger, CCS director of development.
"We were totally unprepared for this," she said of the 238 percent increase in requests for food, the 570 percent increase in requests for paper and soap products and the 370 percent increase in the need for personal hygiene products.
Last year CCS assisted 137 families in January. This year they helped 464.
Redinger pointed to recent employment layoffs by the automotive industry and slowdowns and layoffs by the manufactured housing industry as reasons for the desperate situation.
While they were prepared for the increase in NIPSCO utility bills with the Gift of Warmth program, having so many people apply for food was a shock to CCS' system.
"We've had people apply for aid we don't ordinarily see," she said, "and it is very hard for most of them to ask anyone for help."
The organization receives plenty of donations about once a year - at Christmas time. People forget that the same people who were hungry in December are still hungry in January.
CCS opened in Warsaw in 1984 and opened a branch office in Syracuse in January.
"Three or four days after opening the north office we heard about the layoffs," Redinger said.
Syracuse-area families seeking assistance numbered 130 of the 464 total for the first month of the year.
Factory slow downs may keep adults employed about half the time - not enough to qualify for unemployment benefits.
"People used to a 40-hour paycheck are now getting a 22-hour paycheck," Redinger said. "Many times both parents are employed by the same factory. It doesn't take long to get in a desperate situation.
"It's hard enough for people to come and ask for help. If they never have before, it's very difficult."
Most families spend $100 a week for groceries. CCS needs about $1,000 worth of food essentials a week serve the families currently seeking aid.
CCS can help one family once every 31 days.
There are no income requirements for people seeking food. People benefit from other programs that are income based.
Gifts of Warmth funds are still available to families living 150 percent above the poverty level or with $2,131 per month in gross income.
Applicants must bring in a disconnect notice, which means two month's worth of bills have gone unpaid.
"We raised $11,250 and NIPSCO is making a $2 match for every one of our dollars," Redinger said.
"Usually we see utility bills of about $300," she said. "This year we're seeing bills close to $1,000."
"And we've never seen anything like these increases. This is the most enormous increase we've ever had.
"If January was an indcator of what the rest of the year will be like, I'll get a little nervous."
