Random acts of kindness: AHS wraps up Kindness Week with Full Tummy Project
Published 8:50 am Saturday, February 15, 2025
Justin Travis | The News Courier. Nicole Tayler, left, and some of her SCA students pose for a picture with several bags students at AHS packed Thursday, Feb. 13.
Justin Travis | The News Courier. AHS students pack bags during their lunch break Thursday, Feb. 13.
Justin Travis | The News Courier. Several AHS students go in line through their lunchroom for their Full Tummy Project.
Justin Travis | The News Courier. SCA students tie off the bags for their Full Tummy Project Thursday, Feb. 13.
In the lead up to Valentine’s Day on Friday, Feb. 14, students and teachers at Athens High School creatively celebrated their annual Random Acts of Kindness Week — showcasing how a little bit of kindness can go a long way in making a big difference in the lives of others.
“It’s been an awesome week so far in terms of student engagement,” Willie Moore, executive principal at Athens High School, said. “Our students have made this week very seamless. They have participated in all the events and they have made the choice to be kind to others, I think that speaks very highly with how they have been raised.”
On Monday, Feb. 10, students were tasked with hunting for kindness — as they dressed up in their best camouflage outfits and look for opportunities to do something kind for others. Then, Tuesday, Feb. 11, students got decked out in a vibrant array of colors to “Tie-Dye Up” their campus by picking up trash around the school. When Wednesday, Feb. 12, rolled around, students had to wear pink to show their love to their faculty and staff.
“This week has really brought a lot of unity throughout the school,” Bailee Velotta, a 12th grader at Athens High School, said. “It’s been a boost of student morale and it has reminded us that we are one big family in this community.”
The weeklong event culminated with the school’s Student Council Association hosting the annual Full Tummy Project during their lunch break on Thursday, Feb. 13. In an effort to combat youth hunger throughout the Athens and Limestone County communities, over the past few month AHS clubs and classrooms have collected thousands of nutritious ready-to-eat food items from their students to baggy up and donate.
According to Nicole Tayler, SCA advisor, students at Athens High School created hundreds of bags full of crackers, soup, fruit cups and granola bars for children in need.
“Ultimately, we will collect 1,200 pieces of food for these bags,” Tayler said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help of all of our sports clubs and organizations that know the importance of just being kind to others. I hope that celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week each year like this reminds our students of the importance of being kind, putting service before self and giving back to our community.”