Last year, Hempfield High School (HHS) introduced a new fundraiser to its yearly Variety Show, which will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. the school's performing arts center. Students, staff and attendees of the Variety Show will have an opportunity to purchase tickets for a gift basket drawing, and all funds raised will directly benefit students in need throughout the district.

"The fundraiser was very successful last year. My goal this year was to expand on the idea and get more gift baskets," said Maguire Younes, Student Council president. Avery Landis, the 11th-grade Student Council representative, contacted several businesses in Lancaster requesting donations for the baskets. Landis found that local businesses were overwhelmingly supportive of the fundraiser and happy to participate. The gift baskets include items such as a car detailing package from Lancaster BMW, Apple AirPods and a variety of gift cards. "I got a lot of great feedback, and it was awesome to see how many people were willing to help out," said Landis.

Multiple teachers and clubs at HHS also put together baskets for the fundraiser, such as a basket of books and book store gift cards from the English department, a basket of makeup assembled by a group of teachers and a basket of Hershey Bears tickets provided by a school club.

Tickets for the Variety Show itself will be available at the door. Before the Variety Show and during intermission, attendees will be able to purchase tickets and select the basket drawing they would like to enter; all 40 baskets will be displayed in the hallway outside of the performing arts center. At the end of the show, the tickets will be drawn for each basket and the winners will be contacted if they are not present.

"The proceeds for the fundraiser specifically benefit an emergency fund that is used to assist students struggling financially," said Younes. "This can be a student who has a parent die unexpectedly or who loses (his or her) home to a disaster."

Although the Variety Show is a tradition that has been held at HHS for many years, this year it will include a greater variety of performance than previous years. The show will feature performances from beatboxers, character impressionists and a bagpiper, in addition to the more traditional array of singers, dancers and bands. "More students are becoming involved with the show, and we're hoping the community will want to be more involved as well," said Younes.

For more information, visit http://www.hhsrafflebaskets.wordpress.com.