After Hurricane Helene ripped through the United States, the community surrounding Science Hill High School was devastated. No one could have imagined the effects that the natural disaster would have on the lives of those in Appalachia, let alone those so close to home. While rivals on the sports field, Science Hill sympathized with schools like Hampton, Elizabethton, and Unicoi after they were forced to shut down. Highways, churches, farms, and countless homes were demolished, along with the positive, lighthearted spirit that usually defines the people of the Tri-Cities.
However, one thing that Helene could not take from us was the ability to serve. Hundreds of Science Hill staff members, students, and parents jumped at the chance to help heal the wounds left by the storm. And the driving force behind much of this relief came from something Science Hill has in abundance: clubs.
Science Hill is home to many clubs and organizations, focusing on everything from religion to athletics. Some of these groups especially stood out in the relief efforts. The girls’ volleyball team served lunch to first responders, the ROTC cadets collected donations, and members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes volunteered at local churches. The biggest relief effort at SHHS was organized by 4-Thirteen, a youth organization focused on empowering the teens of Johnson City. Mr. T.R. Dunn, a local celebrity, photographer, and active member of the SHHS community, heads this organization and stepped up to provide families in impacted areas with the supplies they need to recover.
Dunn’s first step was to collect donations. He opened a donation drop-off location for two weeks, originally planning to focus on Unicoi County. However, after realizing how much help had already been sent to that area, he redirected his attention to Hampton.“It was amazing,” he says. “People just kept bringing and bringing more stuff.” 4-Thirteen students accompanied Dunn, filling a massive truckload of supplies, and traveled to Hampton, where they saw the devastation firsthand. Dunn recalled that the students were particularly impacted by the experience, with some saying, “they really have no high school, and we do.” After helping out in Hampton, they also transported goods to Mountain City and partnered with Chick-fil-A’s mobile food service to provide hot meals to first responders in Unicoi.
Part of Science Hill’s vision is “to be significant in the lives of students and our community”, which, as seen in the aftermath of Helene, was proven true. But why is service so important? Participating in community service is essential for strengthening bonds, fostering empathy, and increasing the quality of life for everyone involved. It also helps create a more resilient community in the face of disasters like Helene. In Dunn’s words: “It’s just what we’re called to do…we are blessed to become a blessing to someone else.” He went on to discuss conversations he had with some of the donors, which led him to believe that, despite the chaos and destruction caused by the hurricane, Helene seems to have “brought out the best of Tri-Cities.”
Although Hurricane Helene succeeded in causing immense pain in the East Tennessee region, she left us with a silver lining: “Sometimes when we go through devastation, God allows it to bring us together.” Johnson City was ripe with sympathy, smiles, and countless prayers being sent to anyone and everyone affected by this disaster. These shared actions and emotions served to unite the people of Johnson City. For this, we thank Helene for the wake-up call on how we should love and help one another in these turbulent times.
On behalf of the Hilltopper Herald, we thank everyone who donated supplies, funds, or lent a helping hand to aid in the repair of our community. We also want to acknowledge that there are still relief efforts underway, with donations being accepted at organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, First Christian Church, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army of the Carolinas. For more information on how to help, visit www.johnsoncitytn.org.
