Volunteers at Combined Community Services load carts to take out to waiting cars. InkFreeNews photos by Patrick Webb

By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Combined Community Services Executive Director Randy Polston has a quote over his office door, which reads “Will you matter that you were here?”

CCS is a Christian faith-based organization, which strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus. CCS provides many programs to assist who they describe as guests, not clients. Polston joined CCS in 2019, after 34 years with Warsaw Community Schools and eight at Grace College. 

Polston said he was encouraged to “throw his hat into the ring” when the executive director position opened. During his interview with the directors and volunteers, Polston was asked what he knew about CCS.

“I said, ‘I must say it’s the best-kept secret in Kosciusko County.’ And you could have heard a pin drop when I shared that,” Polston said. He added at the time he was looking forward to learning more.

Polston worked at Harrison Elementary School, which is near CCS, “and I knew Combined Community Services had a food pantry, but that’s it. That was the limit of my knowledge.”

The food pantry is CCS’ most visited program. When Polston started in 2019, the food pantry averaged 30-40 people per day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was 70.

During the pandemic, CCS received federal and state funding. After the funds ended, inflation hit, which Polston said made reestablishing donation sources harder.

“Last week we had two days where more than 100 people came to the food pantry. So you can see the need that there is out there in our community, and how the food pantry addresses that,” Polston explained.

Due to a decrease in donations to cover operation funds, CCS had to cut five paid positions. Polston and the directors are taking on more responsibility.

“It’s been a tough two months here,” he said.

In 2023, according to a CCS press release, the November 2023 Food-A-Thon, helped restock the shelves. By January of this year, Polston said the shelves started to become empty again.

To help with donations, Grace College moved their Supermarket Sweep to January. “That step, that change right there helped us big time to address the needs right now,” Polston said. He added that for the food pantry to remain sustainable, “we need help.”

As the executive director, Polston works with the directors of Emergency Services and Self Sufficiency. Emergency Services and Self Sufficiency are a part of what CCS describe as a hand up, not a hand out.

Polston offered an example of a former student who came for help with groceries and fuel. CCS was able to help them get those, which Polston described as the hand out.

“The next step is a hand up, let us work with you to identify what is going on in your life to create these roadblocks, so you can move forward,” Polston said. “Let us walk that journey with you and lead you to self sufficiency.”

After the hand up comes Project Independence, which aims to help people achieve their dreams. Many guests, Polston said, have gone to colleges such as Ivy Tech and Grace College to complete their degrees.

Ami Pitt, left and Sabrina Philips hold up a 2024 vision board for a CCS event for Project Independence.

As a principal, Polston quoted the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.”

“And I’ve carried that over to (CCS). It takes a village to impact lives, and we can’t do that by ourselves,” Polston said.

During the summer, CCS hosts “Tools for School.” Warsaw Community Schools students may register for school during it. Tools for School also offers school supplies, shoes and haircuts.

Polston said CCS is knocking down “best-kept secret barriers, but we’re not there yet, totally.”

To educate the public on its programs, CCS hosts “Lunch and Learn” tours of their facility. Polston also encouraged people to visit during office hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

“That’s the best way we can keep knocking those best-kept secret walls down and get people involved,” he said.

CCS is still looking for table sponsors for the 2024 Love Thy Neighbor Luncheon, which will be held on Feb. 22 at Warsaw Community Church. People interested in volunteering for CCS or seeking help can go to ccsgives.com.