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To hear her tell the story, Clark County Community Services (CCCS) Executive Director Laci Scarboro didn’t expect to rise to the position as quickly as she did.

However, when the opportunity called, she was there to respond.

Scarboro, a mother, wife, and continuing student for her master’s degree in social work at Eastern Kentucky University, has served as Executive Director since shortly after former executive director Debbie Fatkin resigned last September to be closer to family in southern Indiana.

She spoke at last Friday’s Rotary Club meeting at Woody’s Sports Bar & Grill.

“It kind of goes to show that my plan is not the plan. It was God’s plan,” Scarboro said. “I’m so thankful to be at Clark County Community Services.”

Since coming to CCCS, Scarboro has continued to serve the community with the same efforts the organization has long been dedicated to creating positive change.

“That’s what we want. We want to help [individuals], but also we want them to see a brighter future [and] to take a step forward,” Scarboro said. “That’s maybe not something that we just say to everybody, but that’s really the mission is to improve those parts of the community that are vulnerable.”

In doing so, the organization is keenly aware of generational poverty, which can make it difficult for individuals and families to break away from certain living conditions.

They also provide financial advice to clients, collaborate with community partners to get supplies such as backpacks, and work to ensure counseling is available to those dealing with substance use disorder.

The organization operates CC’s Closet – a thrift store found at CCCS’s central Taylor Avenue location.

Along with clothing, CC’s Closet provides resources like books – some can utilize vouchers entitling them to five free books.

“If you haven’t come to our store, we have things for everyone,” Scarboro said. “I think a lot of people think that CC’s Closet is for clients. Of course, it certainly is…but it’s [also] for everyone.”

Clark County Community Services also connects with local churches to create further change.

They support community members via a food pantry, offering housing assistance eligibility, and partnering with United Way.

For Scarboro, the experience has offered much that isn’t necessarily taught in the classroom.

“Throughout school, you can learn about mental illness, or you can learn about poverty. You can learn about homelessness,” Scarbro said. “Seeing it happening in the community you live in, where my kids go to school, was such an eye opener.”

Clark County Community Services will be especially active in the near future.

A back-to-school sale is scheduled on Friday, Aug. 3, and Saturday, Aug. 4.

As time passes, they focus on what’s most important.

“There’s a lot of stories, and there’s a lot of moments where you’re like, ‘this is what it’s about!” Scarboro added. “We learn every day [that] there’s never the same day.”