Blog & Newsletter

This month, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, our book club is reading The Comfort Book by Matt Haig. Feel free to read along at your own pace. We won’t be hosting any formal discussions, but we always enjoy hearing your thoughts on social media or by email. Unlike a traditional book, The Comfort Book is a collection of short reflections, lists, and notes centered around mental health, hope, and getting through difficult moments. It’s not something that needs to be r

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For many people in our community, mental health challenges don’t happen in isolation. They’re often connected to housing, food, and financial stability. At the Council of Community Services, we see this every day. In 2025, our shelter served an average of 30 individuals each month. Of those, an average of 24 people reported having a mental health condition. That’s the majority of the people walking through our doors, and it reflects somet

This month, we’re excited to share Mikel’s book club pick: Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, perspective-shifting read, this is a great one to explore at your own pace. As always, we won’t be hosting formal meetings, but we welcome any thoughts or takeaways shared with us on social media or via email. In Palaces for the People , Klinenberg introduces the idea of “social infrastructure,” the physical spaces that bring people togeth

For many people, giving is something they think about during tax season. It’s a time when finances are top of mind, and for some, that includes supporting organizations and causes they care about. While one-time donations are the most common way to give, they are not the only option. There are several ways people choose to support nonprofit organizations, each offering different benefits depending on personal goals and circumstances. One option is a donor-advised fund. This a

If you’ve spent time in our community, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Anthony. Maybe passing by on a sidewalk, sitting quietly in a public space, or stopping in for a warm meal at the soup kitchen. Like so many others, Anthony’s story was easy to overlook—but behind it was a man navigating tremendous challenges largely on his own. Anthony lives with schizophrenia and had gone several years without treatment. Without a strong support system, his condition made it difficult

March is National Nutrition Month , a time to focus on healthy food choices and access to nutritious meals. In Campbell County, many families are working hard but still struggling to keep their kitchens stocked. The Council of Community Services helps bridge that gap by providing consistent, reliable hunger relief across our community. What Hunger Looks Like in Our Community In 2024, the need for food assistance continued to grow: Nearly 20,000 hot lunches were served at our

This month, in honor of March being Nutrition Month, our book club is reading Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger by Katie S. Martin. Feel free to read along with us at your own convenience and pace! We will not be hosting any book club meetings, but we would love to hear what people think via social media or email. In the book, Martin challenges a long-standing belief in hunger relief: that distributing more food will solve hunger. If that were tru

Each month, our director, Mikel, shares a book recommendation for anyone interested in learning more about topics like poverty, homelessness, and community programs. February’s pick is Maid by Stephanie Land. The book follows the challenges of navigating poverty and work while raising a child. For those who prefer, a Netflix series based on the story is also available. This book is important because it helps us understand the struggles that are often hidden, such as low-wage

After the holidays, many households are left with pantry items like boxed stuffing, canned green beans, and other shelf-stable foods. While these ingredients are often associated with one specific meal, they can be turned into something new, filling, and affordable with a little creativity. At the Council of Community Services, we believe that food should go further. These recipes are designed to be approachable, budget-friendly, and realistic for everyday cooking. Try making

Director’s Book Picks In honor of National Poverty in America Awareness Month, the Council of Community Services is introducing a new feature: Director’s Book Picks . Each month, Mikel will recommend a book related to topics such as poverty, homelessness, and community programs. The first pick is "Homelessness Is a Housing Problem" by Gregg Colburn and Clayton Page Aldern , which explores the connection between housing and homelessness. While there won’t be a formal discussi

The holiday season is always a busy time at Council of Community Services, and this year was no exception. As needs increased, our community responded in a big way. Over the past few months, we have requested additional support, and as we enter the new year, we want to take a moment to thank you. Here is a highlight of what our community helped us accomplish this season. Christmas Baskets Through our Christmas Basket Program, we provided food for more than 500 families during

As food banks work tirelessly to feed our neighbors, it’s easy to focus on the visible lines of people picking up groceries and the emergency programs that donate surplus food. But research and experience show that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is far more effective at addressing hunger at scale . Unlike food banks, which provide important but limited support, SNAP delivers direct benefits that allow people to purchase the food they need, while also sup

On behalf of the entire team at the Council of Community Services and the thousands of Campbell County residents we serve, THANK YOU! As we approach the holiday season and our End-of-Year Giving Campaign, we are truly humbled. This year brought deep funding cuts to the programs that sustain our homeless and hunger initiatives. When the cuts started in February, we weren’t sure how we would continue to support the most vulnerable members of our community. But you stepped up .

When you’re checking out at Albertsons this fall and the screen asks if you’d like to donate to Nourishing Neighbors , that little “yes” does something big right here in Gillette. Starting at the end of October, Albertsons will kick off its Nourishing Neighbors campaign again. Every dollar donated at checkout goes straight back to the Council of Community Services as gift cards. We use those gift cards to help local families buy the food they need for their holiday meals. It

Support local families in need — it’s easy and impactful! 1. Pick Your Time & Place You can host a food drive any time of year!...

“Local charities change lives.” For more than fifty years, the Council of Community Services has been walking alongside Campbell County...

Why Choose a Career in Weatherization? A career in Weatherization offers you a chance to earn, learn, and make a real difference in...

As kids across Gillette gear up for a new school year, many families are quietly struggling to cover the basics. From school clothes to...

When Brett arrived at the Council of Community Services in 2021, he was just 19 years old and escaping a dangerous home situation. What...

At the Council of Community Services, we believe in celebrating the strength and progress of the people we serve. In this month’s Client...