MUNCY - Muncy High School held its second lock-in from 10 p.m. March 2 to 6 a.m. March 3 to raise awareness for Ronald McDonald Charities, which was the designated charity for the annual Key Club Convention March 17 at Penn State University.
According to Matt Alexander, adviser for the Muncy Key Club, the sponsoring organization, close to 60 students registered for the event.
The Key Club is a student run organization according to President Natalie Leonard who sent out more than 100 letters to businesses and residents in the community to help support the Lock-In fundraiser.
Article Photos
BARBARA C. BARRETT/Special to the Sun-Gazette
Students get ready for a Key Club Convention at Penn State University by holding a lock-in March 3 at Muncy High School. Above, students play Scrabble during the event, which had nearly 60 students in attendance.
Leonard said that Ronald McDonald House Charities help sick children through recovery and give families a comfortable place to stay during a difficult time and offer medical services to children who don't have any.
"We will present the check along with the other clubs and competitors at the service fair this month," Alexander said. "We hope to raise over $2,000."
This charitable program provides a "home-away-from-home" for families so they can stay close to their hospitalized child at little or no extra cost. There are 211 chapter organizations of Pennsylvania key clubs raising funds for Ronald McDonald House this year.
Students who registered were able to give any amount, depending on how many sponsorships they solicit.
"Wegmans donated breakfast and Kellogg's gave us some Pop Tarts," Alexander said.
Some of the monetary donations came from state Rep. Garth Everett, Sammy's Restaurant, Haywoods Restaurant and Fry's Plastics.
Last year, the students gave to the World Food Bank. Dan Hamm, a senior from Loyalsock Township High School, and the district secretary and treasurer for the Pennsylvania Key Club, came to help out. He said Muncy High School was only one of a few schools in Lycoming County doing the lock-in.
Senior Chelsea Astin said, "I wanted to do something different. I never did this before, that is stay out all night and not eat."
The students could play volleyball, dodgeball, board games, watch movies, dance to music and hang out in a safe environment that was watched by school security officer Don Allen and teacher chaperones.
The Key Club officers who helped out this year are Natalie Leonard, president; MacKenzie Ruby, vice president; Kayla Heckman, secretary; and Jen Vo, treasurer.
