At the Adventist Community Services Food Pantry, the dedication and hard work of two remarkable teenagers have left an indelible mark. Caleb and Declan Donnelly, 15-year-old twin brothers, have been actively involved with the organization for the past five years, showcasing their commitment to making a difference in their community.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Community Leaders

Embracing the Boy Scout Tradition

Caleb and Declan Donnelly have been part of the Boy Scouts for a decade, a journey that has instilled in them the values of leadership, service, and personal growth. Their involvement with the Adventist Community Services Food Pantry has been a natural extension of their scouting experience, allowing them to put their skills and dedication into practice."When we work there, we usually do a lot of stocking and we make a lot of the food for people," the twins explained. "So we get to help people out by giving them food, making carts for them, filling them with, like, about two weeks to supply food."

Earning the Prestigious Eagle Scout Award

The brothers' tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed. Their sashes are already adorned with numerous badges of honor, but their crowning achievement is the coveted Eagle Scout award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts organization."The Eagle Scout Award is the highest rank you can get as a normal scout," the twins shared. "You have to go through, I believe it's seven different ranks to get the award, scout, tender foot, second class, first class star, then life and eagle scout. So it takes a lot of work, a lot of camping, and a lot of hours to get to it's a pretty significant award, just like my dad and my uncle's got it, it takes a lot of time to achieve, but to get it, you really have to work with your family and all your friends and all the people you know, because they help out the most."

Restoring the Pantry's Facilities

The brothers' dedication to the Adventist Community Services Food Pantry extends beyond their regular volunteer duties. They recently spearheaded a project to restore the pantry's waiting room, bathroom, and other long-awaited tasks in the building."The total project combined with all I believe 22 people took 225 hours," the twins revealed. "So I had to go buy all the supplies and such. We were at the job site for about seven or eight hours a person. I did the reception room in the food pantry, I did about 175 hours, about 10 of which were planning, getting supplies, all that, getting donations. And we had about 15 people there, I believe. And we're also there for eight hours."

Earning the Community's Admiration

The General Manager of the Adventist Community Services, Alexandra Berru, couldn't be more grateful for the twins' contributions. "We're more than proud to have them. We love them," she said, describing the brothers as "like our kids, and we love them for real."Berru's sentiments echo the profound impact the Donnelly twins have had on the organization and the community they serve. Their selfless dedication, unwavering commitment, and the positive influence they exude serve as an inspiration to their peers and a testament to the power of youth-driven community service.As the Donnelly twins continue their journey, their story stands as a shining example of how young people can make a lasting difference in the world around them, one act of kindness and service at a time.