The Mid-Prairie organization Feed the Kids has worked to serve food insecure children since 2014, with the support of the community and their annual dinner and auction.

Feed the Kids board member and Mid-Prairie West Elementary School Counselor Leanne Bender says, “We have had tremendous community support through that event and been able to have plenty of money to pay HACAP for our food that we’re purchasing from them for Operation Backpack. And go above and beyond that to support things like the summer lunch program that offers free lunch to kids in Wellman who want to come to the senior center on Tuesday and Thursday and have a meal paid for there. We are also able to fund food pantries in the schools so currently the middle school and Mid-Prairie West Elementary have food pantries.”

Feed the Kids also provides the school nurse offices with granola and breakfast bars. They are also planning on putting food pantries in Mid-Prairie East Elementary in Kalona and the high school. These programs are made possible by the annual auction, which Bender says they are still seeking auction items, “We’re looking for both live and silent auction items that people would be interested in bidding on. Experiences seem to be something that people really enjoy bidding on, like golf outings or children’s museum passes or things of that nature.”

If you wish to donate an item for the Feed the Kids auction you can email Feed the Kids or call Wellman Produce. The dinner and auction takes place August 26 at the Parkside Activities Center in Wellman.