ATHENS, Ala. — A sophomore at Athens High School is making a difference in a Florida community devastated by Hurricane Helene. John Lawrence Chittam was concerned by the destruction caused by the hurricane and sought ways to help those affected.
After learning about the devastation, Chittam reached out to Mary Ann Hotaling, the principal at the Excel Center for Decatur City Schools, for advice on organizing a volunteer project. Hotaling said Chittam was determined to help and quickly contacted a Florida school that had suffered extensive damage.
"Within days, John Lawrence contacted the principal of a school in Florida he had heard suffered a lot of loss and damage. He asked what they needed," Hotaling said.
Chittam’s initiative, named “Project: Dolphin” after the Florida school’s mascot, connected local donors to help each classroom at the school.
In just under a month, Chittam raised more than $3,000, which will be donated to the affected school community.
