In most situations, financial assistance is the tip of the iceberg that has brought people to our door. By offering a "hand up, instead of a hand out", we are able to meet more needs and offer solutions that lead to self sufficiency. Emergency Assistance offers a "needs assessment" to each client to better determine barriers and possible solutions.

We offer several "seasonal events" to serve the children in our county.

• Tools for School is held each August and offers school supplies, book bags, and haircuts
• Adopt-A-Family and Toy Giveaway provide Christmas help
• Glass Slipper Prom Drive supplies donated prom dresses, hairstyling, prom meals and accessories and limited tux rentals to Kosciusko students

Emergency Assistance also has an annual Coat Drive in October. Lake City Radio and Valerie Warner organize and collect the coats, Wildman Uniform and Peerless Cleaners dry clean them, and we hang them out so anyone can stop by and choose one. In 2011, the coat drive distributed over 1,900 coats to Kosciusko county residents.

Emergency Assistance programs are only able to serve households when funding is available. We're completely funded by your donations and by the United Way of Kosciusko County. Your donations are crucial to meeting the basic needs of Kosciusko County's low-income residents, and residents experiencing a temporary crisis. Please consider donating to Emergency Assistance today or call Peggi at 574-269-6019 x 222 or email pwright@combinedcommuntiyservices.org