Schools
McEachern Senior Assists in Tsunami Relief
"With all the devastation, I wanted to do something," Kela Johnson says.
About two months ago, a vicious and triggered a tsunami, causing nearly 2,000 deaths, 2,000 injuries, and leaving more than 3,000 missing.
International groups responded with aid, but a senior knew that the helpers needed help.
Kela Johnson said she had been looking for a project that would impact the community, as well as impress scholarship committees.
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“This one spoke to me," the 17-year-old described. “With all the devastation, I wanted to do something.”
Johnson turned to her school’s administration, asking permission from Assistant Vice Principal Paul Gillihand. He was willing to give advice and assistance on the county approval process.
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“There’s county policy students have to abide by when it comes to fundraising,” he explained. “Usually the county wants fundraisers to focus on needs within the county. We felt there was a special circumstance in this case.”
Kela’s adviser for the project, Fine Arts Department Chair Cecilia Cicco, said she was impressed with Johnson’s tenacity.
“Typically Cobb County doesn’t do things off their list, and they said no at first," she said. "But Kela pushed it for all the schools and finally convinced them. It was completely her idea. She wanted to do something for these people.”
Cicco said Kela's efforts were very successful.
“She was shooting for 200 dollars," she said. "She had that in two days, collecting in the lunchrooms.”
Kela said a friend who recommended doing a fundraising project lent a hand, as did a number of other classmates.
“We collected money for more than a month and ended with a total of $320," she said. "I was surprised, quite honestly, that high school kids would be willing to give up that much of their own money. Teenagers usually are tagged as selfish.”
Kela turned in her funds to the Red Cross at the end of April, but she hasn’t given up on raising more money for tsunami relief.
“I was thinking about possibly selling bracelets or T-shirts—maybe car decals. We’re not done yet,” she said.
Kela said she would like to give another check to the Red Cross before heading off to the University of West Georgia in the fall as a freshman music major. The senior said she may be an educator herself one day.
You can give to the Red Cross earthquake and tsunami relief effort by clicking here.