Franklin County, News, Phil Campbell, PICTURE FLIPPER, Red Bay, Russellville
 By  Kellie Singleton Published 
8:33 am Wednesday, June 29, 2011

RHS students raise $11K for PCHS, HHS

Students at Russellville High School returned to school with heavy hearts the day after the deadly tornadoes ripped through Phil Campbell and tore apart the lives of people they knew, people who were strangers and people who were the same age as they were.

Student leaders felt a burden to help their neighboring schools who are just minutes down the road from them so they came up with an idea to sell T-shirts bearing a common theme among RHS, Phil Campbell High School and Hackleburg High School: their school colors and mascots.

The T-shirts created to raise money for PCHS and HHS said “Black and gold cats stick together” on the front and “Russellville supports PCHS and HHS – April 27, 2011” on the back.

The first batch of T-shirts the school purchased included 100 shirts sent to HHS and 150 shirts sent to PCHS to be distributed to their students. The student organizations at RHS footed the bill for those shirts so they could be given to tornado victims at the two schools free of charge.

In all, over 2,100 shirts from the first order and from a second order were purchased throughout the community with all of the proceeds going towards the support of those two schools. After all the numbers were tallied, RHS had enough money to send a check to HHS for $5,524.50 and a check to PCHS for $5,524.50.

RHS student council sponsor, Mandy Swinney, said she had no clue when the students first had the idea for the T-shirts that it would become such a big project, but she’s glad the idea caught on so that a sufficient amount of money could be raised for those schools in need.

“What started out as a school project turned into a community event because shirts were also ordered by residents of Phil Campbell and Hackleburg,” Swinney said.

Over a three-week period, shirts were ordered, sorted and delivered by the students and faculty of RHS.

“I think the kids were just looking for any way they could be a help to anyone who was affected,” RHS business teacher AnnaKay Holland said during the T-shirt drive. “Regardless of which school it was, the kids just wanted these other students to know how much they care about them.”

RHS Student Council members Liza Scott and Chase Holland personally presented the checks to Hackleburg principal, Johnny Hardin, and Phil Campbell High School principal, Cindy Davis.

“We were just glad to be able to do something to help,” Scott said.

“They lost so much and have a great deal of work ahead of them. We just wanted to let them know that we were thinking of them.

“I was so proud of the students of RHS and the community for participating in this project and I am glad we were able to raise so much money.”

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025