From left, Tara Kuhmichel, Ivy Tech Warsaw’s Workforce Alignment and Achieve Your Degree Coordinator; Brock Heyneman, Meijer Warsaw Store Director; Dr. Allyn Decker, Vice Chancellor for Ivy Tech Warsaw. Courtesy of Ivy Tech Warsaw.

WARSAW — Meijer donated $1,000 in gift cards for Ivy Tech Community College Warsaw’s Basics Bank, Sept. 30.

The Basics Bank is an emergency food and supply pantry that opened in January.

The donation was granted in the form of gift cards so Ivy Tech Warsaw can have the flexibility to purchase an assortment of emergency supplies, said a news release from Ivy Tech Warsaw.

“On behalf of Ivy Tech Warsaw students, we want to express our gratitude to Brock Heyneman and his team at the Meijer Warsaw store,” said Allyn Decker, vice chancellor for Ivy Tech Warsaw.

The emergency food pantry helps in-need students who may get financial aid to cover tuition and books but lack the necessary funds for everyday items. Providing free pantry items to food-insecure students will help remove barriers to their academic success.

Items can include food, beverages, personal care items and school supplies.

The food pantry is operated out of Ivy Tech’s Learning Resource Center. It is managed by Tim Keyes, Learning Resource Center coordinator and his assistant, Dawn Burns. 

All students are allowed to use the bank with the guideline that three items per day can be taken. Students are encouraged to donate back as they are able.

“Supporting our neighbor, Ivy Tech, means Meijer is potentially supporting our entire community, and we are happy to invest in this worthy project,” said Brock Heyneman, Meijer Warsaw store director.

According to Decker, Ivy Tech Warsaw encourages its students to use the Basics Bank, even if some are shy about admitting need.

In addition to this generous donation from Meijer, Ivy Tech Warsaw’s women’s philanthropy group, Circle of Ivy and a donor from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation also contributed to this project. The combined funds should keep the emergency pantry stocked for another year, said the news release.