{"id":134690,"date":"2026-07-24T13:01:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/134690\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T13:01:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T13:01:53","slug":"united-way-teaming-up-to-support-ccs-at-upcoming-tools-for-school-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/134690\/","title":{"rendered":"United Way teaming up to support CCS at upcoming Tools For School program"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A collection of bookbags are seen as representatives from Combined Community Services and United Way of Kosciusko and Whitley Counties as well as a supporter of Tools for School are pictured in his image posted on Social Media. <\/p>\n

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw<\/p>\n

WARSAW \u2014 Tools for School, the program that\u2019s provided school supplies to local children for more than 30 years by Combined Community Services, has a new strategic partner this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

United Way of Kosciusko County and Whitley Counties, which has new leadership with the arrival of Barry Andrews as the CEO and Randy Polston as the Chief Relationship Officer, reached out to CCS earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Polston, who previously served as the CCS director for five years before stepping down in 2024, said he and others have always wanted to see the two groups work together.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A recent social media post by United Way of Kosciusko & Whitley Counties highlighted some of the support from various entities ahead of Tools For School, which happens June 30 at Lakeview Middle School in Warsaw.<\/p>\n

Polston said he contacted Ami Pitt, a former colleague at CCS who\u2019s overseen Tools for School for decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I reached out to Ami and said, \u2018Hey, \u2026 we want to be a part of Tools for School,\u2019 she just jumped up and down. She was so excited about it,\u201d Polston said.<\/p>\n

Pitt said the invitation to collaborate was wonderful<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what we\u2019ve wanted to do for years and they were 100 percent, hey, \u2018Hey, let\u2019s do this together,\u201d Pitt said Thursday.<\/p>\n

Tools for School returns Wednesday, June 30, at Lakeview Middle School and provides everything from supplies to haircuts to clothes and a wide variety of resources.<\/p>\n

This year, United Way has provided 2,500 full-size book bags, many of which are being adopted and being filled with needed supplies by corporate partners and other supporters.<\/p>\n

In one recent instance, 340 bags filled by five different groups were returned, ready to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pitt credits United Way with that effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of people and companies and churches adopt our backpacks,\u201d Pitt said.<\/p>\n

Polston was pleased to reconnect with staff at CCS and help with the collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust being able to go over there and have some meetings with them and talk about what this is going to look like, it just really, really touched my heart,\u201d Polston said.<\/p>\n

Donations are still being accepted and you can learn more at both of the groups\u2019 Facebook pages seen below.<\/p>\n

Combined Community Services<\/a><\/p>\n

United Way of Kosciusko County & Whitley Counties<\/a><\/p>\n

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