By Molly Roberts
The Kalona Rotary partnered with the Mid-Prairie school district and the City of Kalona to host their annual toy drive to provide gifts to area children who might not otherwise have much under the tree especially with the ups and many downs of 2020, the Rotary wanted to make sure they had a successful drive in a year of many unknowns.
Mid-Prairie East Elementary principal and Kalona Rotarian Robin Foster sent surveys to parents throughout the district to determine those in need. From the results, 63 Mid-Prairie students were identified as gift recipients.
Toy drop-offs had to look different this year. Due to COVID-19 precautions and social distancing measures, donors dropped their gifts into a designated box at Dollar General in Kalona or ordered from an Amazon wish list, sending their toys straight to City Hall. Many community members also made monetary donations directly to the Kalona Rotary.