When school let out for the summer, most kids were looking forward to swimming pools, vacations, and sleeping in.

Melody Ellis (10) and Kaylee Weissinger (11) had a different idea.

As members of the National Youth Leadership Council’s 9/11 Day Peacemaking Cohort, they chose to spend their summer learning about hunger in Wichita and finding a way to make a difference.

Rather than jumping straight into a project, they started by listening.

Since May, Melody and Kaylee have interviewed faith leaders, community organizations, food banks, and local leaders. They asked questions about hunger, food insecurity, financial hardship, and the resources available to families in our community.

They learned that leadership starts with understanding.

Over the course of the summer, they participated in planning meetings, conducted interviews, researched community needs, reviewed project ideas, revised plans, built a budget, and worked through the challenges that come with creating a real community service project.

They also learned that helping people is about more than providing food. It is about building connections, sharing resources, and creating a sense of belonging.

After weeks of research and preparation, they completed their official project plan.

Introducing Food for Friends

Food for Friends is a youth-led community hunger outreach project that will take place on:

September 7, 2026
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Central Riverside Park
Wichita, Kansas

Their goals are simple:

• Serve 250 meals
• Give away 125 children’s books
• Share food resource information
• Build community through a community quilt activity

The event will include a free spaghetti dinner, children’s book giveaway, resource information, and opportunities for community members to connect with one another.

The project is supported through the National Youth Leadership Council’s Peacemaking Cohort and has already received a $1,000 project commitment. Melody and Kaylee are now working to secure volunteers and community support to bring the event to life.

What They’ve Learned

Throughout this process, Melody and Kaylee have discovered that leadership is not about having all the answers.

Leadership is asking questions.

Leadership is listening.

Leadership is learning.

Leadership is taking what you learn and turning it into action.

We are incredibly proud of these young leaders for the work they have invested in this project and the example they are setting for other children.

Children are not just the leaders of tomorrow.

They are leaders today.

How You Can Help

There are several ways to support Food for Friends:

• Attend the free community dinner on September 7.
• Volunteer as a youth or adult volunteer.
• Share the event with friends and family.
• Make a donation to help cover project expenses.

Together, we can help Melody and Kaylee turn their vision into reality and make a positive impact in Wichita.