“Crazy how it blew up. We didn’t do it for the attention; we just did it out of the kindness of our hearts. It’s just the right thing to do,” Hernandez said.
In an age when such acts of kindness are rarely reported amid the doom and gloom news, the Caldwell community sprang into action, wanting to honor their hometown heroes. Owner Cathy Plesance put together a small ceremony for the boys at Sweet Spot Bakery, presenting them with gift cards from local businesses.
“We got them cupcakes and cookies with their names on it and cookies that say ‘Hometown Heroes’ because that’s how we feel about them. They are hometown heroes for Caldwell,” Plesance said.
Gomez, again, thanked the boys for their compassion, saying, “They remind me of myself when I was younger.” The teens explained they will continue to keep in touch with the elderly gentleman. “He likes that we go and check up on him and talk to him, ask him how his day was,” Hernandez said.
The boys reiterate that they don’t particularly enjoy all the attention and praise for their actions. In fact, they believe that it should be more commonplace for people to care for their fellow man instead of looking to take advantage of people.
“I think it makes us all feel good because we are out here helping other people, and we don’t expect anything in return,” Hernandez said.
During a time when bad news rules the airways, it’s refreshing to see such diverse demographics come together not only to do something good but without expecting to be rewarded for it. It’s that mentality that deserves even more applause and recognition.