By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

CALERA – A desire to make a difference in the lives of others is what drives 11-year-old Allyson Partridge to volunteer her time helping people that she’ll likely never meet.

The sixth grade Calera Middle School student approached school administrators with the idea to have a weeklong donation drive, called Lift Up Louisiana, to collect supplies for those impacted by flooding in Louisiana.

Donations of heavy-duty garbage bags, diapers, baby wipes and shoes are being accepted.

Allyson said she doesn’t have a set goal of how much she wants to collect, but she hopes to collect at least 50-100 of each item.

“It makes me feel really good and happy because I’m giving and not getting, and I know I’m helping others,” the 11-year-old said.

Allyson’s father, Jason Partridge, said he has a friend who is the police chief of the Seminary Police Department in Mississippi, and the department, along with other Mississippi churches and schools, decided to collect supplies to send to Louisiana.

“I told Allyson about what they were doing and she jumped on board and wanted to help, too,” Jason Partridge said.

Calera Middle began collecting supplies from students, teachers and administrators Monday, Aug. 29, and will conclude its drive on Friday, Sept. 2.

Students who donate will have their name entered into a drawing to win a prize. Jason Partridge said Zaxby’s in Calera has already donated 10 gift cards toward the effort.

Jason Partridge said he and Allyson plan to drive to Mississippi to deliver the goods at the end of the week. Seminary Police Department will then transport the goods to Louisiana.

Allyson is no stranger to volunteering. In 2015 she launched a project at Elvin Hill Elementary called Shoes OverSeas. She partnered with Cullman-based Kenya Relief to send Bibles and gently used and new shoes to those in need at an orphanage and school in Kenya.