Alexis Light (left) and Peggi Lisenbee-Wright are already in the holiday spirit, preparing for Adopt-A-Family.

WARSAW — Combined Community Services is hoping to give Christmas to families in need this year with its annual Adopt-A-Family event. The event looks to provide meals and gifts for children who have no way of receiving them otherwise.

“Adopt-A-Family is for the children who won’t get Christmas,” said CCS Director Peggi Lisenbee-Wright. “They wouldn’t get it if it weren’t for the kindness of the community. We might host it, but the community is the one that does all the work.”

Last year, CCS helped over 400 families get adopted. This year, CCS is combining efforts with the Salvation Army in order to reach as many families as possible this year. In an effort to reduce duplication, Salvation Army and CCS will be using the same database for names, hoping to cover as many families as possible.

Sign-up for Adopt-A-Family will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Combined Community Services.

“You pick the family, and can individualize your gifts. Then, either you can deliver it, or we will,” said Lisenbee-Wright.

Businesses, churches, organizations and individuals are encouraged to get in on the action by adopting families all around Kosciusko, beginning Nov. 5, and going until all families are taken care of. The only prerequisite is that applicants must live in Kosciusko County.

Lisenbee-Wright rests assured that “God gives each family what each family needs.”
“It is encouraging to know you’re helping someone receive Christmas. Christmas is Christ’s birthday, and we do it because Christ said to take care of people. If you really love the client and you really love Christ, then you serve.”