Eve Corkwell, from Hope Missionary Church, was recently awarded a $500 Youth As Resources grant to carry out the group’s service project entitled “Gala Gaps.” This project provides goodie bags to all the attendants for the “Bridge of Hope Gala” that takes place at Hope Missionary Church. The goodie bags will have sensory items, sunglasses, and other things as well. Throughout the process, the group learned how to keep a budget, communicating as a group, and the importance of getting involved in their community.
YAR is a program that recognizes youth as a valuable community resource. The program is governed by a youth/adult partnership responsible for awarding grants up to $500 to other local youth organizations to design and carry out community service projects. To receive a grant proposal, contact Courtney Ginter at Family Centered Services (260-824-8574 or WellsYAR@yahoo.com) or visit www.fcs-inc.net.
Pictured with the big check (left to right): Jeremy Brown (YAR Board Member), Otto Fiechter (YAR Board Member), and Eve Corkwell.
Family Centered Services, Inc. received a charitable grant of $5,000 from the Valero Benefit for Children last year thanks to the Valero Texas Open golf tournament and associated events.
The funds were used for The Closet program, a free resource for Wells County families that allows them to shop for necessities for their children once a month. Items families may receive include clothes, diapers, wipes, toiletries, food items, toys, books, and other miscellaneous things. Since The Closet is all donation-based, Valero’s Benefit for Children grant allowed Closet Coordinator Brandi Brinneman to fill in gaps where she saw a need. Some of the items Brinneman was able to purchase through the grant included boys’ clothes in various sizes, socks, diapers, and baby wipes.
The 2025 Valero Texas Open and Valero Benefit for Children will be held in San Antonio, Texas on April 3-7. Funds raised are distributed to agencies across the United States, supporting the work of hundreds of charities like Family Centered Services in communities Valero operates.
Pictured (from left): Valero Plant Manager Mark Brown, Valero Office Coordinator Kim Barger, FCS Closet Coordinator Brandi Brinneman and Valero Plant Controller Dawn Donnelly
The Family Centered Services Inc. Youth As Resources (YAR) Advisory Board held their quarterly advisory board meeting in February. Ben Renkenberger, of United Way of Wells County, came and spoke to the teens about participating in their community. The teens also got to participate in their first grant screening of the year and chose to fund a new community project. To finish off the night, they participated in some games.
YAR is a program that recognizes youth as a valuable community resource. The program is governed by a youth/adult partnership responsible for awarding grants up to $500 to other local youth organizations to design and carry out community service projects. To receive a grant proposal, contact Abigail Walker at Family Centered Services (824-8574 or WellsYAR@yahoo.com) or visit fcs-inc.net. Spring funding requests are due by Monday, April 1st, 2024.
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Back row (from left) – Joshua Bricker, Ayden Teeple, Ethan Stauffer, Cora Kunkel, Gibson Grieser, YAR Coordinator Abi Walker
Middle row (from left) – Anya Aulbach from Purdue Extension, Kaitlyn Stafford, Claudia Stauffer, Malaina Culbertson, Maddox White, Marshall Gerber
Front row (from left) – Jeremy Brown, Abigail Ramseyer, Erin Ramseyer, Otto Fiechter
Family Centered Services, Inc. Youth As Resources (YAR) Advisory Board Members recently participated in a Bingo Night at the Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton. Pictured are (back row, from left) Annabelle Johnson, Ayden Teeple, Claudia Stauffer, Ethan Stauffer, Gissel Martinez and Lydia Baumgartner; and (front row, from left) Abigail Ramseyer, Malaina Culbertson, Avery Gaskill, Erin Ramseyer and Otto Feichter.
YAR is a program that recognizes youth as a valuable community resource. The program is governed by a youth/adult partnership responsible for awarding grants up to $500 to other local youth organizations to design and carry out community service projects. To receive a grant proposal, contact Abigail Walker at Family Centered Services (824-8574 or WellsYAR@yahoo.com) or visit fcs-inc.net. Spring funding requests are due by Monday, April 1st, 2024.
Calvary Lutheran Church recently hosted its annual fish fry with proceeds going to the Closet, a program of Family Centered Services, Inc. The total amount raised was $2,856.44. Pictured are (from left) Closet Coordinator Brandi Brinneman and Calvary Lutheran’s Carol Leeth and Pastor Amy Beitelschees-Albers.
Family Centered Services’ Car Seat Connection program hosted a Spooktacular Safety Event on Thursday, October 12. FCS Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) Nicole Eakright, Christine Martini, and Emily Wyatt were available to perform car seat inspections and give education on child safety in vehicles.
Altogether, the CPSTs performed 13 car seat inspections and provided 3 car seats to for children. Participants were also given snacks, books, tickets for several raffles, and a bag with car seat safety information and other goodies.
The mission of the Car Seat Connection program is to keep children safe. This is accomplished through education and the distribution of car seats to families in Wells County.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 46 percent of car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly. As Child Passenger Safety Technicians, our goal is to help educate and lower that number,” Wyatt said.
Anyone that is interested in having a CPST do a car seat inspection is encouraged to call FCS at 260-824-8574. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 9:00am-4:30pm and Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm. This free service is available to anyone that transports children and wants additional education to ensure child safety.
FCS is located at 1515 N. Sutton Circle Drive, Bluffton. For more information, visit fcs-inc.net.
Pictured: Child Passenger Safety Technicians Nicole Eakright, Christine Martini, and Emily Wyatt
The 18th annual Farmers & Merchants Duck Race to benefit non-profit Family Centered Services (FCS) took place on Saturday, August 12. This was the first year Farmers & Merchants Bank was the naming sponsor for the race.
A total of 3,366 ducks floated down a flooded Washington Street as a crowd of approximately 461 spectators watched in anticipation, competing for 25 prize packages ranging from local gift certificates to gift baskets. This year’s grand prize winner of $1,000 was Barbara Barbieri.
Additional prize winners were Brad Fiechter, Jill Shelton, Seth Fiechter, Amanda Butz, Molly Hoag, Kayla Lakey, Steve Ault, Lyn Steffen, Jamie Lemler, Joline Bowman, Abby Moser, Marcia Hotopp, Kelly Goode, Greg Werich, Shirley Harman, Ginny Garwood, Kristy Fisher, Katie Lopolito-Meyer, Ann Eakright, Roger Sherer, James Wilson, Scharna Bendes, Cameron Kohler, and Jennifer Hupfer.
Along with the duck race itself, the event also included foam machines, lifelike dinosaurs, bounce houses, kids’ games, free door prizes, two food trucks, six raffles, and five community partners. Life Community Church, Saint Marks Lutheran Church, and First United Methodist Church were also present to give out shoes and socks to children.
In total, the duck race grossed over $50,000. The funds received will go toward continuing the work of FCS in the community.
FCS, which began in 1990, exists “to strengthen our community by empowering families and youth through services that educate and inspire.” For more information on FCS or the programs they offer, visit fcs-inc.net or call 824-8574. They are located at 1515 N. Sutton Circle, Bluffton.
Family Centered Services, Inc. (FCS) wants to say, “Thank you!” to Les Gerber Insurance for their $3,000 sponsorship of the 18th Annual Duck Race. The goal of this race is to assist in sustaining FCS’s youth and family serving programs. As a nonprofit social service agency, local fundraising is crucial to FCS’s ability to provide lifesaving and life changing services to children and families.
The event itself is free and set for Saturday, August 12. The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the race will start at 12:15 p.m. The event will take place at Pickett's Run Park in Bluffton and will include the duck race, music, games, a foam party, bounce houses, food, and more.
Tickets are now on sale with the chance to win over 20 price packages, the grand prize being $1,000. You must be 18 or older to purchase the tickets and they may be purchased from any FCS employee or board member.
Family Centered Services’ mission is to strengthen the community by empowering families and youth through services that educate and inspire. For more information on FCS, visit fcs-inc.net or call 260-824-8574.
Pictured (from left): FCS Chief Executive Officer Paige Hamilton, FCS Director of Development and Duck Race Coordinator Ashleigh King, and Perry Gerber and Klint Fiechter of Les Gerber Insurance
Family Centered Services, Inc. (FCS) wants to say, “Thank you!” to ProFed Credit Union for their $1,000 sponsorship of the 18th Annual Duck Race. The goal of this race is to assist in sustaining FCS’s youth and family serving programs. As a nonprofit social service agency, local fundraising is crucial to FCS’s ability to provide lifesaving and life changing services to children and families.
The event itself is free and set for Saturday, August 12. The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the race will start at 12:15 p.m. The event will take place at Pickett's Run Park in Bluffton and will include the duck race, music, games, a foam party, bounce houses, food, and more.
Tickets are now on sale with the chance to win over 20 price packages, the grand prize being $1,000. You must be 18 or older to purchase the tickets and they may be purchased from any FCS employee or board member.
Family Centered Services’ mission is to strengthen the community by empowering families and youth through services that educate and inspire. For more information on FCS, visit fcs-inc.net or call 260-824-8574.
Pictured (from left): FCS Director of Development and Duck Race Coordinator Ashleigh King, ProFed Branch Manager Kristi Lockwood, Leah Brown, Aiden Kuntz, and Jamie Johnson.
We have tickets on sale with the chance to win over 20 price packages, the grand prize being $1,000!! You must be 18 or older to purchase the tickets and they may be purchased from any FCS employee or board member. The tickets are also available at the FCS office located at 1515 N. Sutton Circle Drive, Bluffton. Office hours are Monday-Thursday, from 9am-4:30pm, and Friday, from 9am-12pm.
The race is set for Saturday, August 12! The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the race will start at 12:15 p.m. The event will take place at Pickett's Run Park in Bluffton and will include the duck race, music, games, face painting, a foam party, bounce houses, food, and more!!
Family Centered Services’ mission is to strengthen the community by empowering families and youth through services that educate and inspire.
