NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A student-led movie night at Clarksburg School raised more than $400 for the Berkshire Food Project. 

 

The nine girls involved in the Girls Advisory Group presented the check for $411.50 to Darlene Ellis, the non-profit's kitchen manager, on Monday. 

 

The Food Project feeds a daily weekday lunch to anyone who walks in the door, as well as several special holiday meals. It's been housed in First Congregational Church on Main Street for many years, using its large kitchen and hall. 

 

The group has done movie night in the past to benefit various causes, but in this case, the project was chosen "because they needed a new roof and, like, they needed renovations," said student Marissa Berger. 

 

Ellis said the project had done some research on what the funds could be used for. 

 

"It could go to the church for the new roof, which will be put over our dining area ... and they also said we could use it with whatever we needed, so if we need Christmas food, we can use it," she said. "There are always supplies to buy."

 

Brenda Johnson, a math teacher for the middle school grades at Clarksburg, said the Advisory Group meets with her once a week on Fridays to discuss local needs. 

 

"We teach about community and wellness," she said. "We talk about how we can get out in the community and makes things better for people."

 

The girls decided on a movie night, offering an early movie for younger children and a later one for older kids. The price of admission also included popcorn. Johnson said the Thursday night event brought out a large number of children and adults. "We had a very good turnout," she said. 

 

It was enough to raise hundreds of dollars to aid the 30-year-old Berkshire Food Project, which serves nearly 30,000 meals a year. 

 

"We are very dependent on donations," Ellis said. "I'd say 80 percent of our income is donations and the rest is grants."

 

The students are Emma Arnold, Marissa Berger, Grace Brule, Destiny Smith, Kendall Martin, Kennedy Moore, Destiny Domenichini, Rhiannon Perras, and Lauren Matys.