Zimmer Biomet supervisors, managers and team members collected snacks, balls, crayons, pencils and other needed items for Baker Youth Club, dropping them off at the Warsaw nonprofit on Thursday, Dec. 15. From left: Front — ZB Human Resources Coordinator Angela Krebs, Manager Tyler Wadkins, Human Resources Senior Generalist Sylvester Thomas, Human Resources Associate Director Len Tusa and Human Resources Manager Patty Hoffer-Steele and ZB’s Brian Fiedler and BYC Executive Director Tracy Furnivall; back — ZB Supervisor Michael Gaunt, Senior Manufacturing Supervisor Cory Krulik, Manufacturing Supervisor Nate Daughenbaugh, Manufacturing Supervisor Jared Nutt, Manufacturing Supervisor Justin Simmers, Manufacturing Supervisor Robert Phat and Manufacturing Supervisor Lloyd Adams and BYC Director of Operations J.R. Gray. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Baker Youth Club helps Zimmer Biomet by providing various programs for workers’ kids.

ZB employees expressed their thanks to BYC on Thursday, Dec. 15, by dropping off seven boxes of needed supplies to the nonprofit at 1401 E. Smith St., Warsaw.

For the third year in a row, ZB supervisors, managers and team members collected items such as snacks, balls, tissues, crayons, pencils and more.

“Child care is so important to our supervisors, so that their team members can come and get in to work … that’s why we decided to (donate to organizations with) before- and after-school programs,” said ZB Human Resources Coordinator Angela Krebs.

ZB is to drop off items at the Parkview Warsaw YMCA on Friday, Dec. 16, for the Kosciusko Community YMCA’s kids’ programs.

“Our team members get excited when they can actually bring things in instead of (just contributing financially),” added Krebs.

BYC did get a financial boost from ZB though, with its foundation providing the nonprofit with $2,000.

“I just want to say we’re grateful for the Baker Youth Club … Our employees depend on Baker Youth Club to provide services for before and after school, so it’s very important for us to have that, and it’s a secure environment,” said ZB Manufacturing Supervisor Lloyd Adams.

BYC Executive Director Tracy Furnivall expressed his thanks for the gifts.

“This is so valuable to us, such a blessing,” he said. “This is all stuff that we will use throughout the year and that just allows us to not have to take money out of our operation accounts to go buy this stuff for the kids to be able to use.”

“We go through 50 to 75 volleyballs a year, soccer balls, the tissues, the crayons, the paper, the juice boxes, so it’s a huge financial support to us,” he continued.

BYC’s programs include crafts, sports, STEM activities and help with homework and e-learning. Social skills make up a large component of them, said Furnivall.

“When the kids are interacting with other kids and with … high school and college students mentoring (them), the interaction that they’re getting … is vital,” he said.

Krebs also thanked BYC staff for “being … great role (models) for … kids.”

“Because some kids, that’s just what they need, they need somebody to confide in and somebody to love on them,” she said.