The cities of Kalona, Riverside, and Wellman are pulling together their resources to help those experiencing food insecurity with a pop-up pantry this weekend. The city of Kalona held a similar pop-up food pantry event in early April with great success, and Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh is optimistic for this event to go well too. Two tents will be set up at the City of Kalona shop at 711 A Avenue in Kalona and individuals and families are asked to stay in their vehicles as volunteers help and retrieve food. Schlabaugh tells KCII News about all the donated food items they have received for this event, “I’m really proud of our three communities and stepping up and putting our best foot forward during these times. The important thing is we have had some resources given to us with food. Farmers Hen House for example, donated 210 dozen eggs for this Saturday. Our Kalona volunteer fire department who’s largest fundraiser had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, for obvious reasons, they were gracious enough to package up some of the pork that they had for that event, the little mini sausages, and gifted those to us for Saturday. Brenneman Pork and the Washington County Pork Producers are giving some certificates so that people can purchase local and still be able to fulfill that food insecurity during these times.”

This pop-up food pantry event will take place this Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Event officials ask citizens to enter from 6th Street and come east. The drive-thru pantry is for residents of Wellman, Riverside, and Kalona. The cities ask individuals who need emergency food assistance or are unable to make the trip and would like to receive food to call their respective city halls. Food delivery and different pick up times can be arranged for those who cannot be there on Saturday.