What began as a way to fulfill school service hour requirements quickly kickstarted my dive into the effective use of communication for philanthropic purposes.
Feeding the Lone Star (FTLS) is a Houston-based nonprofit founded in December 2023 by Chani and Sholom Zajac. The couple started the organization simply as a way to teach their children about giving back.
Since the first day that Chani distributed extra soup to those in need, FTLS has brought together hundreds of volunteers to prepare thousands of meals for families across Houston facing food insecurity. By fall 2024, an inaugural teen board was formed, giving students from across the Houston area the opportunity to step into genuine leadership roles contributing directly to the organization’s impact.
This year, I have the privilege of serving as president of that teen board. As an inaugural board member, I help oversee our meetings, guide our team’s direction and work to nurture relationships with leaders across Houston.
Holding the position of president has taught me that the way you speak to your community – whether asking for donations, encouraging your team or standing behind a microphone – shapes public response to your cause. Whether online or in-person, every board meeting nurtures my relationship with teens from schools around Houston, which is one of the most meaningful parts of the work I do.
Feeding the Lone Star has given me friendships with teens whom I look forward to seeing at weekly meetings, where irreplaceable energy and contagious laughter create a desirable work environment.
When Chani first asked me to emcee the 2025 Teen Gala, I thought, “Who, me?” I had never emceed anything in my life. But with her encouragement and a year’s worth of leadership workshops alongside mentors like Deborah Bergeron, Bobby Lapin, Dr. Carl Schmulen, Rachel Strauss and Rabbi Moishe Traxler, I began gaining confidence.
Standing in front of more than 100 donors at our first-ever gala taught me that confidence is not something you wait for, it is something you build on by doing the thing that scares you.
For our second Heroes Gala on April 15, I once again stepped into the role of emcee, but this time felt different. With college around the corner, my desire to leave a real impact on my community had only grown. The Heroes Gala raised nearly $60,000 for FTLS, a milestone that proved what a dedicated group of teens is capable of.
Walking onto that stage for the last time this year, I held onto something Ms. Bergeron taught me: A good leader accepts not always having total control; instead a good leader focuses on something we do have control over – the relationships we build with others.
As I looked out at the crowd that night, I reflected on the various relationships Feeding the Lone Star has gifted me. Benjamin and Joy Warren came to mind immediately. They show up for this community without hesitation, putting 100% into everything they are a part of. I look up to them in this way and aspire to continue showing up for my community no matter the circumstances.
That idea perfectly captures what Feeding the Lone Star has given me, not just leadership skills, but an example of what it looks like to invest in people.
It’s evident how deeply Chani invests in every part of this community, not just the Jewish community and the adult board, but especially the teens. She understands how important it is for our generation to come together, especially during this time. Through organizing volunteer sessions and board meetings, Chani consistently reinforces the power of young leaders and strengthens our shared purpose.
Through the time, encouragement and strong relationship Chani built with me, she opened my eyes to my potential as a young leader, which is something that you won’t find across all organizations in Houston. Feeding the Lone Star helped me find my potential, which is something I hope to replicate on future boards I serve on in college.
As I head to college, I am dedicated to creating communities that invest in their members the way FTLS invested in me, and I hope to be the kind of leader who impacts others the way Chani does. I will take with me the confidence, leadership skills and, above all, the understanding that the most powerful thing I can do is show up for a community that showed up for me.
Ella Aruh is a senior at Emery High School.
Feeding the Lone Star Heroes Gala teen honorees
• Mia Finkelman, Volunteer of the Year, board member and Episcopal High School junior
• Ava Silk, Teen Leadership awardee, board member and Bellaire High School junior
• Honored teen board members: Nini Alatin, Ella Aruh, Maya Aruh, Asher Burck, Leo Frenkel, Oscar Goldberg, Ella Navon and Jack Wallace.