Representatives of Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema and Warsaw Community Schools pose with an $8,000 check for school lunch debt relief. From left are Moving Pictures Social Media Manager Alex Neff, Moving Pictures Intern Calissa Grindle, Moving Pictures Apprentice Jackson Moeller, Moving Picture Owner Nathan Underneath, Warsaw Community Schools Director of Food Services Stacie Light, WCS Assistant Director of Food Services Shannon Dellinger and Kosciusko Chamber Of Commerce Member Relations Manager Scott Wiley.

By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema presented an $8,000 check to Warsaw Community Schools to assist with lunch debt.

Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema Owner Nathan Underneath started the fundraiser in February. At the check presentation Wednesday, May 15, Underneath shared that businesses and community members contributed to the fundraiser. Some businesses, such as Panda Express, Texas Roadhouse and Hacienda, offered funds through free appetizers, coupons or giving funds for donation days.

Underneath said that the original goal of the fundraiser was to raise enough funds to cover the entire debt. Since starting the fundraiser, the debt decreased to $11,000.

Underneath said it was “super cool” to see how many community members donated.

“I got stopped at restaurants, bars, everywhere. People would come up and say ‘Hey are you still collecting money?’” Underneath said. He added that some people donated multiple times.

“Stories came out of people donating that frequently had been on the program themselves,” said Underneath. “It wasn’t even people that were in these real comfortable positions now. It was ‘I remember how hard that was and I don’t want anyone to go through that.’”

Light speaks inside of Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema at the check presentation.

Warsaw Community Schools Food Service Director Stacie Light shared the goal of the department is “we want to feed kids.”

“We don’t want to be the one to say ‘I’m so sorry, honey, you don’t have any money in your account. We can’t get a lunch,'” she said.

Light said that was part of why the lunch debt was so high.

“This is a blessing for a lot of families, and for our department too,” said Light. “It’s hard to make those calls as a bill collector on top of other duties.”

The funds will not be used to directly pay off debts. Light explained that the school will offer matches to families to pay off the lunch debts.

“That way I can reach more kids,” said Light. “Unfortunately I can’t reach all our kids on $8,000. But, by golly, if we can split that up, maybe I’m looking at $16,000 with a 50% match.”

Light hopes there will be extra funds in reserve for next year, and said the problem isn’t going away.

Underneath added that doing a match empowered families.

“This isn’t a handout, it’s not shaming anybody for going through a hard time,” said Underneath. He shared that one person who donated recalled being a single parent, forgetting the bills and having them build up.

“I feel like this is a great way, way better than handing money out,” said Underneath, who credited Light with the 50% match idea. He added the matching grant wasn’t to be condescending, but to “lift each other up.”