Drama troupe to gather food

While Halloween is a time when many local youths and those who are young-at-heart dress up as an assortment of ghouls, ghosts and other creatures designed to create a scary atmosphere, one group of students is setting out to face a truly frightening reality.

Members of the Rector High School Drama Troupe 4089 will be going from door-to-door to gather canned and dry goods as part of the International Thespian Society's "Trick Or Treat So Kids Can Eat" program. The gathered foods will be taken to First United Methodist Church food bank in order to be distributed to local families. From 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Halloween night, drama students dressed in grey "Trick Or Treat So Kids Can Eat" t-shirts will be visiting Rector homes in an effort to replenish food supplies.

"This is a great service for our community," drama teacher Gail Burns said. "We started doing this about six years ago. The participation has just been wonderful."

Last year, RHS drama students collected more than 400 pounds of food. The group hopes to far exceed that amount. The program has an additional focus placed upon it this year, as many food storages have been depleted due to the January ice storm.

"It's a very worthwhile cause, especially after the last couple of years with the ice storm and the recession," Burns said. "All the food we collect will stay here for local families."

The success of the program comes not only from a caring community, but also the efforts of the student volunteers. On a night when most teenagers are making holiday plans, the drama students will be helping others.

"It's a good way to help the community," Drama Club president Ashley Williams said. "The food we gather can help a lot of people. We get a lot of support from the community and we like to be able to give something back."

Persons who donate three or more cans of food will receive a $1 coupon towards the purchase of tickets for the drama department's "School House Rock Live, Jr." musical which will be performed the week of Nov. 3 through Nov. 7 at the RHS cafeteria.