Peanut Butter Rapper makes her debut!

 

 Marsha Watson is a former Board member, and current volunteer and supporter of CCS.  She is also a member of Trinity UMC in Elkhart.  She, along with many other members of TUMC, felt the need to reach out and help fill the pantry shelves.  I love that she created this rap and costume, and that the people of Trinity helped her bring the Peanut Butter Rapper to life, as well as adding much needed food for people who can really use it!

Thanks! 

Betsy

In the news again – CCS begins renovation!

We have been in the news a lot lately due to the huge amount of people coming here for assistance.  In case you missed the channel 22 news, here is their report.  Click on the link at the bottom if you would like to view the story.

The economy is putting a crimp in the finances for local families. It’s also causing a strain on local social service agencies. One agency in Elkhart is looking to expand to keep up with those who need help.

Church Community Services (CCS) in Elkhart is running out of room to meet the growing demand for its services. Its current office off Third Street needs more space.

“Compared to a year ago in September, we saw 500 families more this year than last year,” said CCS director Dean Preheim-Bartel.

“We’re having an average of about 140 families a day that are coming in to use the food pantry and that’s within a six hour period,” added social services director Vonda Horst.

“There are a lot of families in need and they’ve been coming here to get help,” said food pantry client Tracey McWilliams.

But help could be on the way.

The agency is working to renovate an old office building and warehouse on Oakland Avenue.

Relocating the agency there would more than triple the space at its current office and help streamline and improve one of its most important programs — the food pantry.

“The food pantry, it only allows about four people to shop at a time because it’s so small and cramped and now we can almost double the number of people who can be served at one time,” explained Preheim-Bartel.

Plus it will provide more needed storage space.

“It’s a huge issue, and right now we have very little space to store food,” Preheim-Bartel said.

The new building would also house the agency’s Soup of Success project and its financial assistance office. It’s working to raise $1 million. Right now, the agency has reached 35 percent of the goal.

WSBT – Local News – Video – Agency looks to expand to meet growing Elkhart need

Over 10,000 Served!

No, we aren’t talking about McDonalds, we are talking about the number of people that have come through our doors for assistance so far this year.  The actual number as of today is 10, 022 to be exact.  That number represents individuals (most of which have additional family members at home) that have come in for help in making ends meet.   Some came for food, others for financial assistance with prescriptions, utilities or rent. 

Over 150 people each month are first time visitors.  These are people that have been working.  People that have never used a pantry before.  People that never thought they would have to ask for help.

We were a little shocked by this number so early in the year, so we looked at our stats for 2007.  Food Pantry usage alone is up 13% over this time last year.  All of our financial assistance combined is up 11%.  With all of the layoffs occurring right now, we fear that this scary trend is sure to continue rising during the final five months of 2008. 

We are fortunate to be able to provide assistance to this many people in Elkhart County.  Assistance that would not be possible without you.  Thank you for helping us reach out and help others in our community.  Your food and financial support is more critical now than ever, so that we can keep food on our pantry shelves.