How a fifth-grader and our Rotary club helped fight hunger

Families in Arlington, Texas, USA, pack non-perishable meals for those facing hunger.

By Derrick Kinney, Rotary Club of Arlington, Texas, USA

I got a call in November that immediately got my attention. It was from our district community service chair, Victoria Farrar-Myers. She shared an idea, “What if our Rotary club partnered with a fifth-grader to fight hunger?” I remember thinking, well, that’s a first.

Our club president, Randy Hendricks, set up a meeting in a coffee shop for a few of our members to talk it through. That’s when we met Leighton and her dad. Within minutes, it was obvious this wasn’t just a “cute idea.” There was a sincerity in how she talked. I could tell she cared and had thought it through. Without hesitation, I was in.

Leighton attended the same school — Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas — as Victoria’s son. The year before, Leighton had worked with an organization called Meals of Hope to raise money and pack non-perishable meals for people facing hunger. Leighton figured that with our Rotary club’s help, she could go even bigger (and she was right).

Victoria first talked with Leighton’s dad about the idea, and when he brought it up with his daughter, she was excited and ready. The meals could be assembled quickly and donated locally, without worrying about spoilage or logistics getting in the way. 

As she explained the idea, something clicked for me.

The problem we were trying to solve

I’ve helped organize a lot of good service projects through Rotary, but this felt different. This wasn’t polished or overthought and it wasn’t even a “Rotary program.” It was a student with a passion and plan. Honestly, I’d been looking for something like this.

I wanted a sustainable, scalable way for our club to address food insecurity — not just another item on the calendar. Our district governor had made reducing food insecurity a major priority and we took that seriously. But we kept struggling with how to create a service project that would actually bring the whole community together.

We didn’t want something that was just Rotary planning it, talking about it, and running it. There’s nothing wrong with that per se. But sometimes our projects become too contained and internal. We wanted something bigger that people outside our club would feel connected to and excited about. That’s when the right leader showed up. And yes, she was a fifth-grader.

Why it worked, how it grew

Leighton wasn’t asking Rotary to take over her project. She was asking us to support it and that difference matters. Her idea already had everything a successful service project needs: a student leader who cared, a school ready to engage, and a proven partner in Meals of Hope. Rotary didn’t need to be the star, but we could provide members who were willing to show up and help activate the community to participate and not just observe. We could be the support system that helped it grow, and that’s when we are at our best.

Leighton set a goal to raise $7,000. That’s a big goal for anyone, especially a student. I admired the courage behind that number, and I knew we could help.

Our board came up with the simple idea of donating $1,000 in seed money and matching every dollar Leighton raised up to $7,000. If she hit her goal, the total impact would be $15,000. Over the years, I’ve learned that people don’t just respond to need, they respond to momentum. With a match, a donation multiplies.

One of my favorite parts of this experience was helping Leighton think about how to share her message. At first, she just asked for donations. But I told her something I truly believe: being young is a superpower. It’s hard to say no to a motivated fifth-grader with a plan. We helped her craft her ask to “I set a crazy goal to raise $7,000. Will you help me?” That small shift changed everything. She wasn’t begging; she was leading. And people didn’t just donate; they joined her.

The day everything came together

Momentum built quickly. Our club shared the event internally. Leighton promoted it at Oakridge. We shared it on Facebook and with local media. Partnerships, in addition to our club, included Oakridge School, the Oakridge Black Students Association, and The Girl Scouts. The Black Students Association helped lead artwork, music, and coordinate volunteers. Students were creating the experience.

We held the event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which felt like the right way to honor his belief that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. From 10 a.m. to noon, the Oakridge School gym was packed with families, students, Rotary members, and 140 volunteers working side-by-side. In just two hours, we packed more than 43,000 meals for people in need.

I remember standing there for a moment, just taking it all in. Then came the part that still blows my mind. Leighton raised the full $7,000. With our match, the total was $15,000, raised by a fifth-grader.

What I learned (again)

If you’re part of a Rotary club, or any organization trying to create meaningful impact: a compelling story beats a perfect plan. Matching funds motivate. And Rotary doesn’t have to own the event to be the reason it succeeds. Sometimes the best role is simply being the fuel behind someone else’s mission.

Leighton didn’t need us to take over her vision. She needed us to believe in it.  This day wasn’t just about food insecurity. It was about what happens when a student decides to lead.

Thank you, Victoria Farrar-Myers, for making the connection, and club president Randy Hendricks for saying, “Let’s make this happen.” And thank you to every volunteer who packed meals, donated, served, and showed up. This is the kind of day you don’t forget, because it proves the heart of the community is still there.

The way you make Rotary even better isn’t by doing more as Rotary. It’s by inviting more people who want to make the community better to do it with you.