The Food Lounge was founded in 2021 by a group of high school friends from Dallas and Houston, Texas, who shared a deep concern for food insecurity in their communities. What began as a few student-led service projects grew into a youth-led movement.

Since then, The Food Lounge has expanded to over 10 locations across the United States, with a growing network of over 500 dedicated student members. Each chapter works independently to organize local volunteer events, partner with food banks and shelters, and raise awareness about food insecurity. Our mission remains the same: to empower youth to lead with compassion, take action in their communities, and be a force for lasting change.

Youth Taking the Lead Against Hunger

Headquarter Leadership

Alex Cai – Co-Founder / President

Alex is a rising senior at The Kinkaid School in Houston with strong interests in economics, politics, public policy, mathematics, and computer science. He is particularly interested in how economic and political systems shape society and enjoys engaging in debate and discussions surrounding current events, policy, and civic issues.

Alex has served two years on the Houston Mayor’s Youth Council as a representative for District J, where he focuses on issues affecting young people in the Houston community. Through the council, he has worked to elevate youth perspectives on topics such as education, civic engagement, and environmental development.

Outside of academics, Alex enjoys working out, following Houston sports, listening to music, and occasionally playing video games. He is deeply committed to community service and believes in using leadership and education to create meaningful impact. Through his work with The Food Lounge, he hopes to continue expanding the organization’s reach and strengthening its role in the community. Alex is also passionate about teaching and mentoring younger students, helping them build confidence and develop a love of learning.

Edgar Poon – Co-Founder / Vice President

Edgar is a rising senior at Plano West Senior High School with a strong passion for community service and youth engagement. In his free time, Edgar enjoys playing tennis and giving back through volunteer work. During the summer, he combines both interests by volunteering at the Gleneagles Tennis Club, where he supports tennis programs and helps young players grow their skills.

Beyond sports, Edgar is committed to education and makes time to tutor English at local learning centers, helping students improve their reading and writing abilities. He brings the same dedication and energy to his work with The Food Lounge.

Edgar is eager to see the organization grow alongside him and looks forward to contributing to its mission in meaningful ways. He is excited for what lies ahead and is proud to be part of a movement that empowers young people to make a real difference.

Calvin McKee – Co-Founder / Treasurer / Secretary

Calvin is a rising senior at Greenhill School in Dallas who brings a mix of curiosity, creativity, and a steady drive to whatever he takes on. Calvin is an Eagle ranked Scout with a strong commitment to service, with hands-on work in conservation, poverty relief, and community support. Through the Food Lounge, Calvin is focused on making a real, practical impact to —helping people in ways that actually matter. Outside the nonprofit world, Calvin is a nationally ranked fencer; he also enjoys singing in choir, and creating art work. He also experiments constantly in the kitchen, whether he’s tweaking recipes or trying something totally new. When there’s downtime, if any, he would be watching sports or catching up with friends—as he always finding new ways to connect, build, and create.

Past Leadership

Ethan Poon

Co-Founder, Former President, Harvard ’30

Emily Wang

Former Houston-Chapter President, Stanford ’30

Darren Han

Former Austin-Chapter President, MIT ’30

Andrew Zhang

Former Oklahoma City-Chapter President, Stanford ’30

Iris Mu

Former Detroit-Chapter President, Columbia ’30

Luke Meng

Former Memphis-Chapter President, Columbia ’30

Alex Gan

Former Fairfax-Chapter President, Penn ’30

Alice Chi

Former Lovejoy/Highland Park-Chapter President, UT Austin ’30

Audrey Zheng

Former Pittsburgh-Chapter President, Stanford ’30

Alexandrea Sfikas

Former Southlake-Chapter Co-President, UC Berkeley ’30

Miranda Wei

Former Southlake-Chapter Co-President, Emory ’30

Allen Liu

Former NC RTP-Chapter President, Duke ’30

Cedric Xia

Former Austin-Chapter President, MIT ’29

Emily Tauhert

Former Dallas-Chapter President, Boston College ’29

Archer Oliver

Former Southlake-Chapter President, Washington University in St. Louis ’29