Kalona City Council Reaffirms Partnership with Local Food Charity

City provides space and support for Feed the Kids organization to assist food-insecure students in Washington County

Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:40pm

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The City of Kalona, Iowa has reaffirmed its partnership with the local non-profit organization Feed the Kids, which provides food, supplies, and other necessities to children facing food insecurity within the Mid-Prairie Community School District. The city council discussed the ongoing collaboration, which includes providing storage space and other support to help Feed the Kids expand its operations to reach more students, especially during school breaks.

Why it matters

Food insecurity among children is a persistent challenge in many communities, and partnerships between local governments and non-profit organizations can play a crucial role in addressing this issue. Kalona's continued support for Feed the Kids demonstrates the city's commitment to supporting vulnerable youth and ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to thrive.

The details

During a recent Kalona City Council meeting, officials reaffirmed the city's partnership with Feed the Kids, a non-profit that assists food-insecure students in the Mid-Prairie school district. The organization provides food, school supplies, shoes, and other necessities, especially during school breaks when students may not have access to free or reduced-price meals. To support Feed the Kids' expanding operations, the city has agreed to provide additional storage space, including refrigerator and freezer access in the SouthTown shed.

  • The Kalona City Council discussed the partnership with Feed the Kids at its latest meeting on Monday, March 17, 2026.
  • The city has been collaborating with Feed the Kids for about a year.

The players

Feed the Kids

A non-profit organization that provides food, school supplies, and other necessities to children facing food insecurity in the Mid-Prairie Community School District in Washington County, Iowa.

Kalona City Council

The governing body of the City of Kalona, Iowa, which has reaffirmed its partnership with Feed the Kids to support the organization's efforts to assist food-insecure students.

Ryan Schlabaugh

The City Administrator of Kalona, Iowa, who presented the partnership with Feed the Kids to the city council and noted the need for additional storage space to support the organization's expanding operations.

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What they’re saying

“More of a heads-up, this is kind of where we're heading, where the use of the space is a little bit more than what it was originally proposed, but that's a good thing. So as they expand and do some other things, just the need for more dedicated space was there.”

— Ryan Schlabaugh, City Administrator

What’s next

The city of Kalona will continue to work with Feed the Kids on securing grants and other resources to support the organization's efforts to assist food-insecure students in the community.

The takeaway

Kalona's ongoing partnership with Feed the Kids demonstrates the importance of local government collaboration with non-profit organizations to address pressing community needs, such as childhood food insecurity. By providing storage space and other support, the city is helping to expand the reach and impact of this vital program for vulnerable students.