Combined Community Services moves into its new facility on Mariner Drive in Warsaw this week.

Combined Community Services is in the process of moving into its new facility at 1195 Mariner Drive in Warsaw and will be open to serve the public from that location on Thursday.

Constructed by Robinson Construction of Warsaw, the new CCS building is just over 12,000 square feet and features a larger food pantry with extended cold storage and even a loading dock for ease of accepting donations. There is also a clothing pantry with fitting rooms, a children’s play area and a media room for classroom-type training.

Most all of the CCS staff will have their own offices in the new building, which means clients can finally have the much needed privacy they desired. There will also continue to be pro bono legal services, ministerial association services and energy assistance services at the new facility.

Lots of study went into planning for the new building, which cost right at $1.3 million. CCS Executive Director Steve Possell said all of the funds for the building came from private and corporate donations and grants. Through a capital campaign, the CCS board of directors raised $217,000 which was necessary to get a matching K21 grant. CCS even received an anonymous donation of $100,000.

According to Possell, however, CCS still needs to raise approximately $150,000 to $200,000 for computer and telephone upgrades and furnishings, which are still being worked on.

CCS will be hosting a fund-raiser at the Mariner Drive location on June 23. The Blue Jeans & BBQ event, said Possell, will feature local CEOs barbecuing in an effort to raise additional funding.

The old building on Prairie Street in Warsaw out-lived its use by several years, said Possell. The pole building was dilapidated, had extremely limited space and generally was becoming less effective as an operable building. He said the old building will likely be torn down when CCS is completely moved out.

The Good Oil Co. purchased the CCS property in order to have access via the existing road. Rumor is a car wash will be built at that location. Managers at Good To Go say the company is tight-lipped about future plans but do confirm the land purchase.

At CCS’s new location, normal hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

An official grand opening event will be held at a later time.