Patterson Mill thespians support national food drive

Patterson Mill High School’s theatre troupe collected 219 pounds of food during the 2009 Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat food drive organized by the Educational Theatre Association’s International Thespian Society. Patterson Mill donated its collected food to the Sharing Table in Edgewood.

“Because hunger is a very scary thing,” organizers said, the initiative is held around Halloween each October.  Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat is in its seventh year. In 2009, 282 thespian troupes from 35 states collected 332,746 lbs. of canned goods and non-perishable food items.

“This was the first year for Patterson Mill High School to participate, since we’re a new high school,” said thespian adviser and drama teacher Patty Baugher. She said the food items were collected in homerooms, but, next year, the club plans to partner with Bel Air High School’s thespian troupe.

“The idea is that it’s Halloween and we can dress in costume. Next year, we’ll use the food drive to help promote our upcoming plays, too,” Baugher said.

The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for middle and high school theatre students with more than 3,900 affiliated schools in the United States, Canada and overseas.