Athens High School Project Lead Still Serves During Pandemic

Athens Project Lead service club recently collected 175 items for The Bottomless Toy Chest in Birmingham. The club’s annual donation drive of small toys, coloring books, and crafts is usually a classroom competition, but this year there was a drop box at the school for students and the community to get involved.

“I’m glad to give back to the community which has done so much for me and for others, especially in this time of economic uncertainty,” junior and Project Lead Public Relations Officer Shaun Dantas said.

“I’m happy that we helped Bottomless Toy Chest to give toys to hospitalized children,” sophomore and Project Lead Points Secretary Warda Zehra said. “Hopefully we can continue events like this to help others in the future.”

According to the organization’s website, the mission of The Bottomless Toy Chest is to deliver toys and craft projects “to hospitalized pediatric oncology patients … to lift the spirits and promote a positive state of mind in young cancer patients.”

Ashley Leslie, Program Director at The Bottomless Toy Chest, was grateful for the school’s donation.

“I would like thank the wonderful students at Athens High School and their Project Lead service club for hosting a drive for us,” Leslie said. “Never before has our mission of empowering children though the magic of toys been more meaningful.”

Leslie explained that the group has been delivering toys to local hospitals, sending special care packages to patients’ homes, and supplying other pediatric cancer organizations with toys. In addition, the group has provided toys to organizations and shelters who help families impacted by COVID-19.

“Our students always impress me with their willingness to help others,” Project Lead co-adviser Brenda Rice said. “Even in a pandemic they are eager to help those less fortunate.”

“I’m proud of our members who continuously look for opportunities to make a difference,” Project Lead co-adviser Shawn DuFresne added. “We obviously had to adjust some of our service to others this year, but the officers found a way to pivot with some of our projects, including this one.”

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PHOTOS: Athens High School Project Lead members Divya Thirukumaran, junior (left), and sophomore Shreya Bala, share some of the donations collected by the service club to benefit The Bottomless Toy Chest in Birmingham.