A group of young Seventh-day Adventists carried out community service activities in Padre Las Casas, in southern Chile, to support older adults who live alone or have limited mobility. About 22 volunteers participated in the service days, organized by the local Youth Ministries team as part of the Caleb Mission initiative.

The project focused on 10 homes identified as the most urgent cases. Volunteers cleaned yards, cut grass, removed trash and debris, and completed basic improvements such as painting fences. Organizers said the work was coordinated in advance with neighborhood leaders, the municipality, and community networks to ensure logistics support and waste removal.

Upon witnessing the numerous needs in various sectors of Padre Las Casas, the group of young people decided it was time to act, they said.

“Many young people want to do something for others, but sometimes the opportunity doesn't exist,” the organization explained. This time, the opportunity was created.

Coordination allowed for the efficient removal of trash from the cleaned yards and ensured the necessary support to carry out the work smoothly. According to the organizers, it was one of the first times an operation of this kind was executed so effectively, thanks to advanced planning.

Many of the individuals served lacked the physical and financial means to maintain their homes. Volunteers cleaned yards, cut grass, removed debris, and painted fences, prioritizing the homes with the greatest needs.

Local leaders reported that approximately 30 homes in the area face similar challenges. The volunteer group said it plans to continue visiting additional households in the coming weeks.

In addition to home visits, the initiative included community activities at a neighborhood multi-sports court. Volunteers organized children’s recreation, promoted the Pathfinder Club, and offered massage services, expanding the project’s outreach.

Organizers said the effort received support from the local church and pastors and included collaboration with community networks, the Carabineros (Chilean police), and a neighborhood watch program. Two volunteers who are not members of the Adventist Church also took part.

“When you’re out on the ground, you realize that there’s always a shortage of hands, but also that service transforms,” says one of the volunteers, who finished the days exhausted, but motivated.

The project, which required nearly a month of preparation, is expected to continue with additional home visits and a cleanup effort along a canal-like street, organizers said. They added that the goal is to build ongoing relationships with families in the community while providing practical support and encouragement.

What is Mission Caleb?

Caleb Mission is a Seventh-day Adventist youth initiative that mobilizes young people for community service and evangelistic outreach through practical acts of service, Bible studies, and public proclamation.

The original article was published on the South American Division's Spanish news site.