June 9, 2020
Story by Yuchen Wang Boswell and Joe Vinduska
Courtesy photo submitted
The Barton Food Pantry received a $2,000 donation from Krista Busch and Mike Hogan of Florida through the Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts program last week.
Vice President of Student Services Angela Maddy said the donation will be very helpful and couldn’t have come at a better time.
“While food insecurity and the struggle to address basic needs are not new challenges for many college students, the global pandemic and subsequent economic implications have undoubtedly exacerbated these concerns for many,” she said. “Even with a reduced presence of students on the Barton campus in Great Bend, the Barton Food Pantry has continued to be a much-utilized resource. Throughout the second half of the spring semester, we have seen the pantry’s supply dwindle significantly. We are incredibly grateful, and on behalf of students our donors will no doubt never know, we offer heartfelt thanks.”
Director of Central Kansas Upward Bound Patrick Busch said gifts like these are what make the pantry possible.
“We thank Krista, Mike, and the Pfizer Foundation for their generous gift,” he said. “The money will help us obtain food and personal hygiene supplies for students throughout the summer.”
About the Barton Food Pantry
The pantry is located in the Learning Resource Center on the Great Bend campus. It is stocked with food and personal hygiene supplies that are completely free to all students taking classes on campus. Since the food pantry started in 2017, the pantry has given away over 18,000 lbs of food and served over 2,000 students. The pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays starting after July 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays after July 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Donations can be dropped off at the Learning Resource Center located in the middle of campus from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday through July 31 and Monday through Friday after that. Monetary donations can be made to the Barton Foundation Office by sending checks to Foundation Office, 245 NE 30 Rd, Great Bend, KS, 67530 with “Barton Food Pantry” in the memo or donate online at foundation.bartonccc.edu. For more information, please contact Busch at buschp@bartonccc.ed or (620) 786-1182.
The Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts program matches U.S. and Puerto Rico-based colleague contributions. Donations are made to eligible 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organizations located in the United States and Puerto Rico that meet program criteria.