Young Changemakers Plan Free Dinner for 250.
Two incoming sixth graders took on the challenge of feeding the hungry in Wichita this summer through a project with the National Youth Leadership Council.
The duo has planned a Free Community Dinner to feed 250 people next month, proving no age is too young to make a difference.
When Society of Child Entrepreneurs founder Leah Ellis approached Melody, 10, about participating in an NYLC service learning project about hunger, Melody didn’t hesitate to apply.
“I needed something to do over the summer,” she said.
But first, Melody needed a partner. Instead of choosing to work with someone she already knew well, she asked her social studies teacher for a recommendation of a student who would be a good contributor. The teacher recommended Kaylee, 11, and she agreed to participate with Melody.
“I gained a new friend through this,” Melody said. “I knew her, but we weren’t super well acquainted.”
The two applied and were accepted to the NYLC Peacekeeping Cohort, and the project assigned was on interfaith hunger solutions. The pair is the only team from the Midwest and, entering sixth grade, the girls are also the youngest participants.
The first task was interviewing at least two local faith leaders on the topic of hunger in Wichita. The duo chose to interview a total of seven people to gain a clearer picture of the issue in Wichita: three religious leaders and four people who work in local food service organizations. In addition, they toured the Kansas Health Foundation and the Kansas Leadership Center to see how those resources could help with their project.
The Lord’s Diner shared with the girls that one in six families in Wichita qualifies as hungry, which Melody explained results in food insecurity, or not knowing where you will get your next meal.
“Food determines your mood,” she said. “A lot of churches and faith-based organizations were already doing food outreach in Wichita, and our goal was to get them to work together.”
Through their interviews, the girls tried to identify why people are hungry.
“With research, we noticed a lot of hunger was caused by lack of knowledge of community resources or the stigma connected to asking to help,” Melody said.
Melody and Kaylee began to plan a free spaghetti dinner, and they set a goal of feeding 250 people.
“We realized if we do a community event, then people will realize they’re not alone, and they can relate to people and not feel like it’s so bad,” Melody said. “And we can also hand out resources.”
Much planning has gone into raising money, planning logistics and finding volunteers for the event. But the girls didn’t stop there: They decided to publish a book about hunger to reduce the stigma behind it.
“It’s about a boy who goes to food bank,” Melody said. “He’s really worried his friends will make fun of him or everything will go wrong, but then it’s really fun.”
The girls will distribute 125 copies of their book, called “First-Time Fears” at the dinner.
To make their project successful, Melody and Kaylee still need donations and volunteers, which can be committed at their website.
Leah Ellis said the project proves everyone can make a difference.
“Kids can do big things, and kids can solve problems with a different perspective than adults,” she said.
Food For Friends Community Dinner and Resource Fair
4-7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
Central Riverside Park, 720 N. Sims St., Wichita, KS 67203
All are welcome; register to be a volunteer or donate.