Northland Organizations Host First-Ever Taste of the Northland Event to Fight Food Insecurity

The sold-out fundraiser has already raised enough money to provide over 500 meals as more families face food insecurity across the region.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Two organizations, the Northland Health Alliance and Feed Northland Kids, are teaming up this weekend to host the first-ever Taste of the Northland event, a fundraiser aimed at fighting food insecurity in the Northland region of Kansas City, Missouri. The event has already sold out, raising enough money to provide over 500 meals as the area sees a growing need due to population growth and economic pressures.

Why it matters

According to data from Feeding America, nearly 50,000 families in both Platte and Clay counties were experiencing food insecurity in 2023, and the organizations expect that number to grow. The Taste of the Northland event is an effort to address this issue and support local food banks and school snack programs that provide food to families in need with no prerequisites.

The details

Dozens of restaurants from across the Northland are participating in the Taste of the Northland event, with all proceeds going back to food banks in the community and to provide snacks for kids at school. For Paiton White, an employee at Christine's Firehouse in North Kansas City, the mission of the event hits close to home, as the restaurant is focused on helping and giving back to the community.

  • The first-ever Taste of the Northland event is being held this weekend.

The players

Northland Health Alliance

An organization that is co-hosting the Taste of the Northland event to fight food insecurity in the Northland region of Kansas City, Missouri.

Feed Northland Kids

An organization that is co-hosting the Taste of the Northland event to fight food insecurity in the Northland region of Kansas City, Missouri.

Paiton White

An employee at Christine's Firehouse in North Kansas City, who says the mission of the Taste of the Northland event hits close to home for the restaurant, which is focused on helping and giving back to the community.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think with the boom of the population in Clay and Platte County, we're urban, so have those specific needs catering to more of the urban community, but also just kind of the economy, the squeeze on everyone right now.”

— Emily Fundermann, with the Northland Health Alliance (kshb.com)

“All proceeds go back to food banks in the community that require no prerequisites from families, and then back snacks for kids at school to prevent them from being hungry or going home hungry.”

— Emily Fundermann, with the Northland Health Alliance (kshb.com)

“It's one of those things where I do everything that I can to help and give back to the community. One thing that we are very big on in this place specifically, is family. And we love helping each other out. So any given opportunity that we have to help out other families and, you know, just come together as one.”

— Paiton White, employee at Christine's Firehouse (kshb.com)

What’s next

The Taste of the Northland event is sold out, but people can still donate to support the organizations' efforts to fight food insecurity in the region.

The takeaway

The Taste of the Northland event is a community-driven effort to address the growing issue of food insecurity in the Northland region of Kansas City, Missouri, with local restaurants and organizations coming together to raise funds for food banks and school snack programs that provide food to families in need with no prerequisites.