Allen College Volunteers Help Pack More Than 70,000 Meals at MLK Day of Service “Pack the Dome”

January 23, 2026

January 2026 – Waterloo, Iowa — Allen College students, faculty, staff, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Allen Foundation staff joined over 1,900 volunteers at the annual MLK Day of Service: Pack the Dome event, contributing to a major community effort to fight childhood hunger across northeast Iowa.

Partnering with the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and the University of Northern Iowa, volunteers gathered at the UNI-Dome for a day of hands-on service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s goal was to assemble 60,000 bags of food—yet the community surpassed expectations by packing an incredible 70,272 bags.

These meal kits will support the Northeast Iowa Food Bank’s BackPack Program, providing children across the region with nutritious, shelf‑stable meals to help reduce food insecurity.

“Allen College is deeply committed to serving our community, and MLK Day of Service is a powerful reminder of how much we can accomplish when we work together,” said Allen College President Jared Seliger. “Our volunteers were proud to be part of something that has such a direct and meaningful impact on local children and families.”

The event reflects Dr. King’s enduring message of unity and purpose. His words—“We can all get more together than we can apart… power is the ability to achieve purpose, power is the ability to effect change”—were embodied by the 1,958 volunteers, including community members, student-athletes and service groups.

For those who could not attend, there are many ongoing opportunities to support hunger relief and community initiatives. Individuals can explore volunteer options—including those at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank—through the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley’s Get Connected platform, which features opportunities with more than 260 community partners.

Thank you to Amy Weston, Camisha Stevenson and Dr. Lisa Jurgensen for organizing Allen College’s volunteer team who participated in the event.