TOTS-EAT FAQs
How does participating in the TOTS-EAT program help my thespian troupe and school?
Who can participate in the Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat initiative?
What about schools that don’t have a troupe?
Can schools work together to collect food for the same food bank?
How do we get started?
How can my troupe promote TOTS-EAT?
Can I collect food other than by going door-to-door?
How do we find a charity?
How do we weigh our donation?
How does participating in the TOTS-EAT program help my thespian troupe and school?
- It allows Thespian troupes to work on a project that gives back to their community. It helps eliminate some stereotypes of high school students by demonstrating the positive difference they can make.
- It raises the profile of the theatre program within the school. This is especially true when the success of the program is shared in newspaper articles, the news, playbills, newsletters, web sites, announcements, etc.
- It creates an opportunity for Thespian troupes to raise public awareness of, and interest in, the theatre program at their school and enriches school/community relationships.
- It strengthens and builds the relationship between the school and the families of its theatre students.
- It helps build the potential audience of a Thespian troupe by promoting upcoming shows.
- It provides an opportunity for students to earn points towards Thespian induction or honor Thespian status (10 hours of work equals one point).
Who can participate in the Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat initiative?
All active Thespian troupes are eligible to participate in the campaign. Active status means the school’s ITS troupe dues have been paid for the current school year. Participation in this great program is a privilege of membership and, we hope, an honor for the students. Students do NOT have to be inducted into the International Thespian Society to participate.
What about schools that don’t have a troupe?
A school that does not yet have a Thespian troupe may work in partnership with a local active Thespian troupe to help contribute to that school’s collection totals. To find out how to charter a new Thespian troupe at your school, visit www.schooltheatre.org.
Can schools work together to collect food for the same food bank?
Yes, troupes can band together as a team. There are even ITS community service awards available for troupe teams. Use the team registration form and include all the team schools on that form.
The very first thing a troupe or troupe team needs to do is register as a participant in the TOTS-EAT program. Print out a troupe registration form, complete it, and mail or fax it in. The deadline for registration is October 15th.
How can my troupe promote TOTS-EAT?
On our website, we have included everything you need. Collection ideas, pre-collection notices, sample press releases, and even TOTS-EAT t-shirts you can purchase.
Can I collect food other than by going door-to-door?
Absolutely! In our collection ideas section, we have plenty of successful ways to collect food. Anything you can do that helps feed more hungry people will be worthwhile. We do encourage you to collect door-to-door because that’s a great way to promote your fall show and make a great impression in the community. Ultimately, you have the freedom to do what you feel is appropriate and will be successful in your area.
Most communities have food banks and other charitable organizations. Some are affiliated with local churches; shelter houses for battered women or the homeless are another possibility. Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, has locations all around the country. Their website, www.feedingamerica.org, has a “Food Bank Locator” on their home page for finding the organization closest to your community. Questions you should ask your potential charity can be found here.
Feel free to come up with a creative way to get an accurate donation weight total. If all else fails, you can add up the total number of 16 oz cans as pounds, the 8 oz cans as half pounds, etc., and calculate your total weight that way. Here are some other ideas:
- Involve the math department by having them do the calculations of the donation based on can or box weights and the total number collected
- Use a vehicle and weigh the whole collection by the truckload. If you have access to local docks, weigh scales, or public scales, weigh each vehicle empty so that you can calculate the weight of the donations later.
- Weigh one box or bag of canned goods to get a “base weight” so you can calculate a total weight mathematically. If you do so, you may want to weigh a second bag or box using boxed food items for a second base weight reference.
Do you have more questions? Contact Ginny Butsch.
