Boy Scout with Down syndrome fights hunger

AUDUBON -  When 18-year-old Audubon High School senior Michael Arechavala set out on a mission to fight hunger this past summer, he didn't expect such an overwhelming response.

Arechavala, a three-sport athlete and Boy Scout with Down syndrome, hoped to collect 500 items for the Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church’s food pantry. But when word got out about his food drive, the community helped him knock his goal out of the park.

After a month of collecting non-perishable food items from his neighbors, Arechavala ended up squeezing 6,152 items into the living room of his Mount Ephraim home.

The food drive was part of Michael's project to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts.

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“We only asked for neighbors to give one or two items, but they ended up giving us cases and cases of food," Michael's mother Donna Arechavala said.

"I stood there looking at the food in my house and cried over how much people helped our cause," she added.

Arechavala said Michael wanted to help support the church because it is one of the Boy Scout Troop's sponsors. Food donations came from all across South Jersey including a Boy Scout Troop from Marlton who held their own food drive to help Michael's.

"They didn't even know him," said Arechavala. The troop was able to collect 700 items to give to Michael for his church's food pantry.

With the help of volunteers, the family has been hard at work transporting the food over to the church. Visiting the church Friday, mother and son were excited to see the food piled on 13 tables inside the basement of the church.

"Wow," Michael Arechavala said looking at the tables of food. "This will feed a lot of people."

"He is thrilled that he got so much. What’s great is that so many people helped him in donating food, and now he can help others in need," his mother said.

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Pastor Don Painter said they had more than enough food for the church pantry and plans to share some of the collection with other local food banks.

"It's a blessing," he said. "It's the paradigm of the church that as we partner with people beyond our congregation such as the Scouts and other organizations, we can accomplish great things." Painter said the collection was the biggest the church has seen.

On Sunday, Arechavala will officially turn over the food to the church, completing his Eagle Scout project. The church will recognize Michael's efforts with a sermon during Sunday's services.

Michael has been involved with the Special Olympics since the age of 7. His helping nature has made him popular within the school's hallways. His mom says he's known as "The Mayor."

“Nothing stops him. We always told him he could do anything anyone else does, and he does.”

Matt Flowers: (856) 486-2913; mflowers@gannettnj.com