WARSAW — With winter approaching, many services are looking for donations to help families in need, keep out of the cold and celebrate the holidays. Locally, Combined Community Services and The Salvation Army are options available to those looking to donate.
Combined Community Services serves the community offering utility and clothing assistance, helping the community stay warm through the cold winter months, as well as offers a food pantry. Frequently seeing upwards of 50 families in day, CCS is always in need of food pantry donations. Current priority food needs include cereal, oatmeal and other breakfast items. For a list of pantry needs visit CCS’s website.
Financial donations for utility assistance are always welcome, as are coats, gloves, boots and other cold weather outerwear. Donations can be dropped off at 1195 Mariners Drive, Warsaw.
CCS also hosts the Adopt-A-Family program for Christmas, helping provide children with gifts and an overall joyous Christmas experience. Sign-up for families in need is Nov. 1. For those looking to adopt a family, events to select a family will be held Nov. 4 and 14. See the press release for more information.
Like CCS, The Salvation Army hosts a program helping to bring kids a festive Christmas experience with the Angel Tree program. Sign-up for the program is 9 a.m. – noon, and 1-3 p.m. Nov. 6–17, with evening hours available 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 7, 14 and 21. Note that if you are in one of the programs you cannot participate in the other. For more information click here.
The Salvation Army is also an available resource and in need of non-perishable food and pantry items. For a list of needed items, go online.
Bell ringers to help raise money for the organization’s needs are also desired through the holiday months. Bell ringers work in two-hour shifts and may choose their time and location. Money raised goes toward: food and hygiene assistance, Christmas assistance, employment and transportation assistance throughout the year, back-to-school programs, nursing home visitation, sufficiency programs and counseling. To sign-up to be a bell ringer click here, to donate directly click here.