People have been finding many ways to give to those less fortunate in the wake of a storm. Floods of donated clothing, toiletries and food have poured in since the dust from the violent storms settled. For a 10-year-old Louisiana boy, though  a Kool-Aid stand was an important way to make a difference.

 “There was a fair coming to town, and I was saving up money by selling Kool-Aid to go. Whenever I saw the news, I decided to switch to helping out Alabama,” said Benny Barnes.

Despite his age, Barnes is no stranger to disaster. Six years ago, his hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was devastated when Hurricane Rita hit. His family was forced to evacuate to Alabama for two weeks, where they connected with the community.  

Through his efforts, he raised $1,300 in Kool-Aid money, which benefitted tornado victims in the Shoal Creek Valley. On Friday, Barnes was flown to Alabama and surprised with a $10,000 check to the Mid-Alabama Region Red Cross courtesy, of Kool-Aid to help storm victims, in addition to the money Barnes raised. He and his family also brought clothing and other essentials with them.