07/30/2026
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A Community Fundraiser Aims to Help RRMR Students and Strengthen Rockford
ROCKFORD — An ATV / Side by Side ride is giving residents an opportunity to make a difference this summer.
Ace's Ride, hosted by Ace's Bar & Grill, will raise money for the RRMR Student Lunch Assistance Fund, while Grow Rockford continues its efforts to invest in projects that strengthen and improve the community.
For RRMR Superintendent Nick Johnson, the lunch fundraiser is about much more than paying off meal balances.
"The proceeds will be used to support the RRMR Student Lunch Assistance Fund," Johnson said. "This fund helps ensure that students have access to nutritious meals by assisting families who have accumulated unpaid meal balances and by providing support to students experiencing temporary financial hardship. Our goal is to remove barriers so every student can focus on learning."
Johnson said the district, like many schools across Iowa, does carry unpaid student meal balances during the school year.
"Yes. Like many school districts, RRMR has student meal balances that remain unpaid throughout the school year," he said. "While we work with families to resolve these balances, there are circumstances where additional community support can make a meaningful difference."
He said the amount owed changes throughout the year.
"We do have outstanding student meal balances that vary throughout the school year," Johnson said. "Our focus is on supporting students and families while encouraging timely payment of meal accounts."
Johnson noted that discussions surrounding unpaid school lunches have become more visible in Iowa over the past year.
"I believe the Hampton-Dumont situation gained a lot of attention to families that need assistance with lunch accounts, and our community just wants to ensure all students get a well-balanced meal."
The assistance fund benefits a number of RRMR students and families each year.
"The exact number varies annually based on need," Johnson said, "but the fund allows us to provide assistance to students whose families may be experiencing temporary financial challenges."
While reducing unpaid meal balances remains the primary goal, Johnson said the fund can also help students facing unexpected hardships.
"The primary purpose of the fund is to reduce or eliminate unpaid student meal balances," he explained. "However, it may also be used to provide temporary meal assistance for students and families facing unexpected financial hardship, ensuring no student goes without a meal due to their financial situation."
Johnson said the partnership with Ace's Bar & Grill began with a simple desire to give back.
"Ace's Bar & Grill reached out with a desire to give back to the RRMR community and support our students," he said. "We are incredibly grateful for businesses like Ace's that recognize the importance of investing in our children."
He added that the partnership reflects the close relationship between local businesses and the school district.
"This partnership reflects the strong relationship between our schools and our local businesses, and together we can make a positive impact on the lives of our students."
Johnson said these types of community partnerships are part of what makes the RRMR district unique.
"We are fortunate to live in communities that care deeply about our students. Partnerships like this demonstrate what makes RRMR so special: neighbors, businesses, and schools working together to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. We are thankful to Ace's Bar & Grill for their generosity and commitment to supporting our students and families."
The lunch fundraiser also benefits "Grow Rockford" which is also raising funds to continue investing in projects designed to improve and strengthen the Rockford community.
Together, the two efforts highlight how local businesses, volunteers and residents continue to invest in both the community's future and its children.
