FREMONT – This Friday, October 30th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, the FHS Thespian Society is collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for LifeHouse’s Food Pantry.
FHS Drama Students have been putting this event on for many years, and this year, FHS student, John Stutznegger, said this event has an even bigger purpose.
“Especially this year with COVID-19, we want to be able to show that we’re still active in the community. We really want to help out those hit hard by these challenging times,” Stutznegger shared. “We’ve noticed that a lot of organizations and food banks are running low on food more often right now due to the increase in families needing it. We knew that continuing to do a food drive this year, like in the past, would be the most beneficial for the community.”
A senior at FHS, Stutznegger is the Vice President of the Thespian Society at Fremont High. His role has been to help organize and iron out the details for the “Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat” event.
In the past, FHS students would go door to door Halloween night and trick or treat and receive donations of canned food for the event, but with COVID-19 this year, FHS Drama Teacher Caitie Hays said they were worried they wouldn’t be able to do the event at all.
“We were really worried that we wouldn’t be able to find a way that was safe enough for everyone to participate, and keep everyone from being put at risk,” said Hays.
Hays is in her 2nd year of teaching at FHS and said it has been a joy to watch the Thespian Society work together to come up with a new plan to make the event happen.
“The Thespian Society’s leadership team works very well together and it was actually the students who came up with the idea to do a drive-thru style food drive for the event this year. They worked really hard. This has been a very student-led event, and I’m super proud of them to push and still make this event happen,” said Hays.
Hays said her decision to let the students lead the event was rewarding for all involved.
“Watching the students put this together and fight to keep this event alive has been so special. It would be very easy for me to dictate everything, but having the students be in charge, assume leadership roles, and work together has been way cooler. I’m so proud of these guys and all the hard work they’ve put into this,” Hays shared.
When KHUB/KFMT asked Stutznegger what made this event so special for him, it was the adaptability of everyone involved to make the event happen.
“The fact that we’re still able to do this event, even with our limited resources and opportunities due to the pandemic has been really exciting to see. Putting this event together has made me grow to appreciate what I have, and I think I’ve become more adaptable as a person,” said Stutznegger.
Details and how to participate in the event:
- October 30, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
- Masks are required by all participants
- The drop-off location will be at the south parking lot of the Fremont High School
- Those dropping off donations have two options
- Park and bring the canned goods to the students where you can place the items in plastic bins
- Drive-thru and a student will stop at the vehicle with a plastic bin for you to place your items in
