Bainbridge High School junior Ryan Adams, his little cousin Jewel and Miss Decatur County Jalyn Harrison spoke to fifth grade students at Hutto Middle School Thursday on the importance of giving back to the community.

Adams holds a hot chocolate sale every December where proceeds go toward local charitable organizations to help families during the holidays.

Last year he raised $3,000. This year, he said he is going for an even higher goal.

“The whole point is to give to the community,” Adams said. “Some people are less fortunate than you. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be something as simple as seeing someone that needs your help, cutting their grass, anything.”

Harrison told the students that giving to someone is all about how it benefits them.

“When you give to someone, it’s not about what you get in return, it’s about how you benefit them,” Harrison said. “In order to make a difference in the community it starts with you guys. That’s one of the ways Ryan is trying to give back.”

Adams will be selling his hot chocolate on Monday, Dec. 21 at Five Points in Bainbridge.

The original idea came to him at 8 when he heard of a family at his church that lost their home in a fire. Instead of spending the money he raised by selling hot chocolate on himself, he donated it to the family. The tradition was born from there.

Adams will be selling his hot chocolate all day until his goal is reached.