Our Mission: Combining community services to provide comfort, hope and resources for neighbors in need.
Our motto is "Helping Neighbors, Help Neighbors." The collaboration with local churches, businesses, charitable foundations, and individuals allows CCS to enable others to achieve self-sufficiency. By offering "
a hand up, not a hand out," CCS offers programs that remove the barriers in families' lives that will enable them to achieve a higher quality of life. CCS looks for new ways to remove barriers for low-income residents of Kosciusko County.
David Slone
Times-Union Staff Writer
Dreams can come true, but sometimes the community needs to be involved to make them happen. For a girl, a big dream may be to go to her high school prom. To help fulfill that dream for any girl in Kosciusko County who may not otherwise be able to afford it, four area students are once again collecting dresses, shoes and other accessories.
The Glass Slipper Collection was started last year by Warsaw Community High School students Alexis Lisenbee and Kate Cobb. Alexis and Kate were the only two high school students involved for privacy reasons. This year, Kate is a sophomore, and Alexis graduated early and is attending Grace College. This is Alexis's last year as a co-organizer. Playing a larger role this year in the event so they can eventually take The Glass Slipper over are Lakeview Middle School eighth-graders Ashlyn Vitoux and Lacey Lisenbee.
"I think prom is as important as a girl's wedding day so we're here to make it as special as possible," Lacey said. "I think it's good to give girls an opportunity to look good on their one special night," said Ashlyn. Combined Community Services Director of Client Services Peggi Lisenbee-Wright and Jennifer Cobb-Hayes are the adult sponsors.
According to Kate, last year 87 girls received dresses, 12 boys were provided tuxedos and an additional 15 people received flowers, meals and had their hair styled. Monetary donations in 2009 totaled about $1,400, and will be accepted again this year. "It's so awesome," Kate said of the whole experience last year. "We were hugging each other the entire time." Alexis said people are still thanking her for making their prom dreams come true last year. It was a great experience, she said.
To make this year just as successful, Alexis said they need dresses, shoes and accessories again to be donated. Businesses and individuals are needed to provide free simple alterations. Hairstylists are needed to provide free hairstyles. Anyone who can donate these services is asked to call 574-269-6019, Ext. 22, and leave a message with your information. Prom and bridesmaid dresses, accessories and shoes all can be dropped off at CCS, 110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, for the collection. Local high schools also are taking in donations for the collection.
The Glass Slipper Collection is open to any student who lives within Kosciusko County. Contact names and information for each school will be announced soon, Kate said.
Dress choosing day this year is April 17 at the Kosciusko Community Foundation. It will be by invitation only, Kate said, so it's important for students to sign up at their high school, on CCS's Web site or by e-mail at freshman_junior@yahoo.com or katecobb3@hotmail.com
The Web site for CCS is at http://www.combinedcommunityservices.org
Collecting dresses, shoes and other accessories so that every girl has a chance to go to prom this year are (L to R) Ashlyn Vitoux, Alexis Lisenbee, Lacey Lisenbee and Kate Cobb. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
Volunteers are desperately needed for the annual Crazy Waiter Event to be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the 2517 Restaurant in Warsaw. Volunteers are needed from about 4 p.m until 10 p.m. to serve non-alcoholic drinks, and all the courses of the dinner, and then to assist in clean up after the event ends. Dress required is a white shirt, black pants, black shoes.
Please join us - it's a rewarding evening of fun! Call 269-6019 ext. 22 and speak to Peggi Lisenbee- Wright if you are interested in volunteering.
We LOVE our volunteers!
