Despite personal hardships, a sophomore Bainbridge High School student is working to bring joy to families in need this holiday season one cup of cocoa at a time.

Next Friday, 15-year-old Ryan Adams, along with friends and family, will host his annual hot chocolate sale in front of the Charter House Inn on Tallahassee Highway. Proceeds will go to local disadvantaged families.

After losing a family member this year, Adams’ mother asked him if he really wanted to do the sale again.

“I told him, ‘None of us are happy right now. We’re not in the mood,’ and he said, ‘Well we’re going to make someone else happy,’” said Shaie Bowen, Adams’ mother. “He refused to not do it.”

The sale will start at 7 a.m., but Adams doesn’t plan on leaving until his goal is reached.

This year’s goal of $3,500 is more than previous goals after repeatedly exceeding them. Last year Adams set out to make $2,500 to donate to needy families, and he ended his sale with more than $3,000.

Last year, $1,900 of the sale’s proceeds went to Flint Media’s Secret Santa program that provides toys, clothing and food to families in need.

“We don’t normally give that much to Secret Santa, but it was so much money that we didn’t know what to do with,” Bowen said. “It is heartbreaking for me and Ryan to decide who gets what.”

The money also provided a gas card to a family who was travelling to and from Atlanta for medical reasons.

This year, Bowen and Adams will seek the help of a local pastor help them allocate the money.

Helping with the sale will be Adams’ eight-year-old cousin Jewel, who has been a part of the project from the beginning.

“He’s training her to take over when he goes to college,” Bowen said.