Local Heroes: Jett And Luke Justin Make Life Better In Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, FL — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Debbie Abrams who nominated Jett and Luke Justin of Boca Raton. She knows the twin brothers, who founded the Cereal4All initiative, through their volunteer work with Boca Helping Hands.

Local hero’s full name

Jett and Luke Justin

Local hero’s home state

Florida

Local hero’s Patch

Boca Raton

How do you know the local hero?

I work with Boca Helping Hands.

What does the local hero do?

Students

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

Cereal4All was started by twin brothers Jett and Luke Justin of Boca Raton, now 14 years old. After volunteering at Boca Helping Hands with their parents, Jett and Luke organized their first cereal drive for BHH at their school in 2016 when they were just eight years old. The boys have since expanded the program to more than 15 schools in the area.

The twins, (who attend Don Estridge Middle School,) have donated more than 8,000 pounds of cereal, just this year. This donation means that Boca Helping Hands has been able to provide clients with about 72,000 bowls of cereal.

“We want to live in a world where every kid and family has daily access to breakfast food in their home,” Luke Justin said. “We want to be part of the fight against food insecurity.”

The boy's annual drive launched on March 7 to celebrate National Cereal Day and concluded in May. A record number of 18 schools and organizations participated this year, including Calusa Elementary School, J. C. Mitchell Elementary School, Florida Atlantic University’s Community Service Club, Morikami Park Elementary School, St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, Plastridge Insurance, West Boca High School and Whispering Pines Elementary School.

Breakfast food is one of the least donated items to food banks across the country. Unfortunately, that means not all families have daily access to breakfast in their homes. Like most kids, Jett and Luke consider cereal to be one of their favorite foods.

“Cereal is about breakfast, but it’s also about happiness,” Jett Justin said. “We couldn’t stop thinking about the families in our community who couldn’t fill their bowls, and we wanted to do something about it.”

The entire Justin family continues to volunteer at BHH.

“It was always important to my wife and me to instill the idea of thinking about others and helping the community,” said Eric Justin, the twins’ father. “The boys bonded with Boca Helping Hands and their mission because it speaks to their hearts. We realized that Boca Helping Hands is a hidden jewel in the community.”

In 2019, the twins received six additional pallets of cereal from General Mills after persistently writing to the company for three years. General Mills still supports Cereal4All and has sent the boys t-shirts to give to students who donate cereal boxes.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

The twins are only 14 years old and started collecting and donating cereal when they were 8.

Thank you for all you do, Jett and Luke Justin!

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.