Feb 15, 2024

If you pop into Galilee’s Backpack Buddies pantry on a Saturday and spot a group of young women packing meals for food insecure students, you probably wouldn’t think that these volunteers are snails. But they sure are!

Led by Cascades resident and high school sophomore Sunny Chen, these volunteers come from the Madeira School in McLean. They are part of a community service club called “Snails Prevail.”

Felicia Johnson and Sunny Chen stand with members of “Snails Prevail”

“Backpack Buddies is close to my heart,” explains Sunny. “I started volunteering for Backpack Buddies as a Girl Scout Brownie and I loved their mission of ensuring that no child goes hungry.”

“I now go to a boarding school, Madeira, that is a bit of a drive from Cascades. But at the end of my freshman year, I felt it was the right time to share Backpack Buddies’ mission of service with friends at school. I started a club called Snails Prevail because snails are the Madeira mascot. We have 60 members in the club and Backpack Buddies is just one of the places we volunteer.”

“Volunteering brings us closer to our community. As a Girl Scout, I learned that volunteering leaves me feeling fulfilled and useful, which is a feeling I can share with friends. The Madeira School welcomes students from all over the country and the world, some of whom may be new to community service. We have different backgrounds and stories. I feel a deep purpose if I help expose others to the idea of service, especially in the community I grew up in.”

The mascot of Madeira is the mighty snail. Madeira’s Latin motto is Festina lente (“Make haste slowly”)

Sunny and the Snails are a good example of how Galilee’s work with outside organizations bears fruit. Sunny never attended Galilee herself (her family are members of the United Methodist church in Great Falls); it was her troop leader who brought the Brownies to the Backpack Buddies pantry for a service project. 

“Initially my troop leader chose Galilee. Now, I choose Galilee because it has an inspirational mission and I have many fond memories of attending events here, such as my Girl Scout bridging ceremonies. I also completed my Bronze Award at Galilee. My mom was the Philanthropy Chair in her college sorority and my parents have taught me to look for opportunities to serve wherever I am.”

The impulse to volunteer has served Sunny well, too. Just this week she received a Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award certificate in the mail from the White House, signed by President Joe Biden.

Sunny says that getting involved at Galilee again was easy. “Felicia Johnson (Galilee’s Director of Serve Ministries) is an amazing person and she has a great energy. When I reached out to her regarding Snails Prevail, she responded with enthusiasm and got our club on the packing calendar immediately. We are looking forward to returning many times!”

Sunny (on right) with her dad and mom, younger sister Bella, and dog, Oreo.

Even when she is not volunteering, Sunny Chen is as busy as a high school sophomore can be. Aside from the demands of school, she swims competitively for Nation’s Capital Swim Club. Sunny’s plans for the future include both swimming and helping others through medicine. “Near future, I see myself at a college with a great swim team and a really stellar pre-med program and then going to medical school. I’m interested in hematology (the study of blood and blood disorders) but we shall see…there is so much to discover in medicine, so I am staying open-minded.”

Still, even a snail like Sunny needs to slow down sometimes. She maintains the spiritual side of her life through worship services (often online) and prayer. And she has hobbies, like following Formula 1 racing (Forza Ferrari). “I have so much respect for these intense drivers and their sport.”

“I also love hanging out with friends and spending time with my sister, cousins, and family. I don’t get to see them during the week so I try and catch up on the weekends. I love acai bowls as well. I’m definitely obsessed. I have a whole photo album on my phone where I document every açaí bowl I eat!”

We thank Sunny and Madeira’s Snails Prevail for their service to the community through the ministry of Galilee. You can follow the journey, @sunnybchen and @snailsprevail on Instagram.