Franklin Regional holiday telethon supports food bank this year
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On Thursday, it will be lights, cameras, action at Franklin Regional High School as students there hold their annual holiday telethon to help raise thousands for a local charity.
This year, the community-wide event will support the Westmoreland County Food Bank.
"We want to make sure people know that community members are welcome into the building [during the telethon] to make donations," said Samantha Westerlund, teacher and sponsor of the school's Kids Helping Kids club. The club organizes the event, and students in the advanced television production class produce the telecast, which will be broadcast live on local cable channel 19.
"What's big about this year is we're trying to do a 'stuff the truck' again," said Becky Magness, media teacher at the high school. Beginning Monday, a 22-foot truck donated by the Westmoreland County Food Bank will be parked outside the high school at 3200 School Road in Murrysville. High school students will collect nonperishable food, including cereal, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, and tuna to help meet growing food bank needs at this time of year.
"A lot of kids get their lunch and breakfast free at school. When they're off for two weeks [over the holidays], that's all gone," said Judy Polczynski, life skills support teacher who is coordinating the school's contact with the food bank.
Each month, the food bank serves about 7,000 households, spokeswoman Louise Wilhelm said.
For the eighth year, several student singers and bands will perform in a makeshift studio in the auditorium lobby. Groups from throughout the district come by during the production from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to drop off donations. Younger students perform or read poems they've written about the holidays, Mrs. Magness said.
"Just getting everyone on and off -- it's tough not to make any mistakes," she said.
With live television, mishaps do occur.
"You never know when you are going to have a problem with the equipment. Last year, one of the cameras would keep going out," senior Justin Welsh said. This will be Justin's fourth year helping to produce the telethon.
To keep the show entertaining, the students also will interview teachers and show pre-recorded videos highlighting clubs who are supporting the telethon.
Visitors to the telethon also can have their face painted or buy gift wrapping, used books and ornaments and jewelry created by life skills support students.
"We've been preparing since mid-November," Justin said.
Last year, the telethon raised about $9,000 for the Helping Hand Fund, set up by the Franklin Regional Education Association to help district students in need. The telethon also filled 1 1/2 food bank trucks. Some years, proceeds are divided between a couple of charities.
"We put a lot of time and effort into it -- hopefully, everything goes smoothly. We're shooting for big numbers this year," Justin said.
First Published December 15, 2011 12:00 am
