September 30, 2026 – Daily Devotional
“And if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” -Isaiah 58:10
Ella Bettner is a high school student with a big heart. In 6th grade, Ella realized there was a problem in her school district. Some of her fellow students could not afford their lunch. Some students had a negative balance with the district, keeping them from eating much at all. She wanted to do something to help her friends. Ella knows it is important to feed those who are hungry.
After school, Ella makes bracelets. She makes charm bracelets to sell for $5.00. Ella then donates the money she makes to the lunchroom so students who need a little help can have a good lunch. As a 6th grader, Ella’s work quickly caught the attention of people in her community. She started going to a local arts and crafts fair to sell her bracelets. Her ability to give and bless her friends kept growing.
As her work and her desire to pay off the negative lunch balances grew, Ella created a nonprofit called “No Tummies Left Behind.” Now, several years later, Ella has donated more than $18,000 to her local school district. Her nonprofit has grown to help other districts, too. As a high school student, Ella spends a significant amount of time educating people about the struggles of families who need help with food. She even partners with her local food bank to raise awareness in her community about food insecurity.
For the past several years, Ella has appeared before her local school board to present a check. Each year, “No Tummies Left Behind” pays off any negative balance in the district. It is a remarkable work being done by this young lady. She is truly making a difference by doing good for her friends and neighbors.
Ella not only helps with her financial commitments, but she also serves as an inspiration in her community of Faribault, Minnesota. When she was interviewed by the local news, Ella said, “I want everyone to try to be as nice as they can, even if they’re mad at something. I still want them to try to be nice, and if more people were nice, then the world’s a better place.”
Like Ella, we all have the ability to make this world a better place. It starts by being kind. Regardless of how we feel, we can be kind. We can do good. Ella looked around and saw a need right in front of her. She used her gifts and skills to make life a little better for her neighbors. It really is as simple as feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, praying for those in need, or simply being kind. A little time and effort can make a big difference in our world.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
