Excelsior Springs, Mo. (Jan. 15, 2026) — For the second time this school year, local volunteers came together to help keep weekend meals on the table for Excelsior Springs elementary students.
On Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, volunteers from the Excelsior Springs Rotary Club, Excelsior Springs Hospital, and community members met at Excelsior Springs Middle School to assemble 576 weekend food kits through Feed Northland Kids.
“You all filled about 120 bags every 10 minutes,” said Chris Donnelli, Director of the Community Food Kit Program for Feed Northland Kids. “Awesome on the speed, even though they’re not a race.”
A Friday bag to bridge the weekend gap
The kits are sent home on Fridays with students who are identified by the Excelsior Springs School District as most at risk for food insecurity. Each bag includes easy-to-open, shelf-stable items meant to help bridge the weekend until school meals resume on Monday. Donnelli said the kits generally include two breakfast items, a couple of main meal options, and snacks.
“A lot of kids are getting their main nutrition at school,” Donnelli said. “If school’s not in session, they’re not eating.”
Donnelli said about 45 kits are distributed to Excelsior Springs elementary students each week, generally serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Some families have multiple children, and organizers work with the district to distribute supplies as fairly as possible when needs change.
“We don’t have enough. We could always use more,” Donnelli said.
Dining and Cooking