[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E25-E26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             STUDENT THESPIANS ACT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2024

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, January 14, 2024, 
high school students, troupe members of New Jersey Thespians, will be 
honored for their leadership and contributions to a statewide program 
designed to help those facing food insecurity in our state.
  Their charitable efforts are part of a program known as Trick or 
Treat so Kids Can Eat, a community service venture in which students 
participate statewide to make a difference and help their neighbors in 
need. In just one month, October 2023, this humanitarian effort 
collected over 8,953 pounds of food. Eleven New Jersey schools with 255 
Thespians participated, including four from the Fourth Congressional 
District of New Jersey: Toms River North, Manasquan and Brick high 
schools, and Ocean County Vocational Technical School Performing Arts 
Academy, all of which will be honored at a closing ceremony at 
Robbinsville High School.
  I note that Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat had been previously run by 
the Educational Theatre Association before being discontinued in 2018. 
However, the students and adults that make up the New Jersey Thespians 
State Board saw the value and impact of the program, stepped up and 
revived the 2018 effort into the program that we now honor. As part of 
the program, theater students collect canned and dry goods from their 
neighbors and friends to then be delivered to local charities and food 
banks.
  New Jersey Thespians serves as a leading honor society of the arts, 
holding a festival each year for high school students in January and a 
festival for junior high students in May in the Garden State. New 
Jersey has one of the fastest-growing Junior Thespian chapters in the 
country, doubling in membership in each of the last two years. New 
Jersey also has both high school and junior high Thespian officers who 
participate in events locally, regionally, and nationally.
  Congratulations and thanks to the students of Thespians Troupe 7455, 
based out of Toms River High School North who collected over 450 pounds 
of food for one of the largest food bank organizations in the state, 
Fulfill of Monmouth and Ocean Counties:
  Alexa De Los Santos, Allyson Olivera, Bailey Terrett, Betania 
Esparza, Brianna Fredella, Darlene Penn, Delaney Koovits, Elizabeth 
Diamond, Emma York, Faith Moreno, Gage Alburger, Hannah Kemp, Joey 
Beatty, Joey Scholz, Jose Padilla, Kara Kube, Kayla Fredericks, Kelly 
Nide, Leah Hugo, Levi Dudek,

[[Page E26]]

Liam Ryan, Lillyanne Smith, Lucas Maciel, Madison McPhee, Mars Byles, 
Mycah Subai, Peyton Mendes, Riley Poll, Saniya Williams, Yazmin Beita, 
Zachary Menth and Danielle Brooks; as well as their advisor, Dr. 
Michael Penna.
  Congratulations and thanks to the students of Thespians Troupe 6185, 
based out of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Performing 
Arts Academy in Toms River, N. J., whose students have collected 514 
pounds of food for the Beachwood Thanksgiving Food Drive:
  Emily Altomare, Joshua Arneth, Enrique Bartolo, Zel Bollard, Ava 
Brierley, Christopher Castaneda, Colin Chaplin, Noelle Coburn, Lluvia 
Cohen, Adeon-Ethan Congdon, Catherine Cullen, Brooke DeFazio, Paige 
Derco, Lana Dubrow, Mia Dungan, Haley East, Julia Emer, Miley Ferriolo, 
Zoe Frantz, Keira Gabbai, Sophie Gabriel, Ariana Gallagher, Cassandra 
Gariepy, Jose Gonzalez, Irene Gross, Susan Guida, Gracie Hammel, 
Kenneth Hankins, Lauren Harry, Allyson Hovance, Riley Hubert, Maya 
Jackson, Alani Jasinski, Zoey Jastrzebski, Saturn Johnson, Keira 
Kennis, Alexis Kinsey, Joseph LaManna, Olivia Linton, Raine Lopez, 
Samantha Martinez, Dakota Mason, Mia Matviiv, Gabrielle McColley, 
Madelynn McDevitt, Maci McNeil, Regina Messenger, Gianna Minardi, Riley 
Paluszak, Molly Pease, Jordan Perucki, Alexandra Reed, Benjamin Ricker, 
Victoria Roberts, Tayden Rock, Hannah Rowley, Cali Scott, Andrew 
Shuberda, Kristin Uphold, Isabella Vitello, Samantha Voss, Katie 
Wallace, Christina Watrous, Mia Whalen, Kai Williams, Ella Ytterberg 
and Aronas Zajan; as well as their Troupe Directors Carolyn Little and 
Joseph Puliafico.
  Congratulations and thanks to the students of Thespians Troupe 3411, 
based out of Brick Memorial High School, whose students collected 414 
pounds of food for the Manasquan Food Pantry :
  Michael Wells, Jules Fuches, Jenna Barry, Isabel Bartlucci, Jessica 
O'Brien, Ky Morghan, Joseph Wronko, Molly and Emma Idzahl, Ava Hasen, 
Luca Buckno, Skylar Hillin, Emily Farrel, Alexis Marrleveled and Jess 
Corsentino; as well as their advisor, Jessica O'Brien.
  Congratulations and thanks to the students of Thespians Troupe 2430, 
based out of Manasquan High School, who collected 374 pounds of much 
needed food for the Manasquan Food Pantry:
  Casey Finnegan, Cormac Lawrence, Janelle Slovak, Jessica Slovak, 
Olivia Maes, Lexi Drent, Charlotte Dery and Bridget Freeman; as well as 
their advisor, Maddi Schille.
  Working together, these students, and their advisors, have made a 
significant and positive impact in our communities, helping to feed the 
hungry. Their noble and generous efforts are inspiring and deeply 
appreciated.

                          ____________________