Earlier this year, the members of False Alarm, a band comprising students at Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS), began thinking of ideas for a community concert. Then, they decided to go a step further and turn the concert into a fundraiser for a local organization.

The result of their efforts was Elizabethtown Rock for Food, a concert held in a barn last month to benefit the Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown.

"We knew from the beginning ... that we wanted to do a fundraiser of some kind," recalled Owen Wagner, an EAHS senior who plays electric guitar and provides backing vocals in the band. "I think that building a music scene relies on a lot of community involvement, and we thought that there's no better way to get that relationship started than to give back to the community. The idea to make the fundraiser element a food drive came about because the show fell around Thanksgiving, a time when food is on a lot of people's minds."

More than 100 people attended the concert, ranging in age from preschoolers to grandparents, said Kristin Messick, whose son, Garrett, is a guitarist and backing vocalist in the band.

"Over 400 nonperishable food items - as well as a cash donation - were collected for the Community Cupboard," she stated. "The kids parked an old pickup truck outside the barn and encouraged attendees to 'fill the truck to fight hunger' as the cost of admission to the concert."

The grandparents of lead vocalist Evie Kopp provided the venue, a working barn complete with cows in the basement. "The band is very grateful to the Kopp family for providing the space for us to play by clearing out their barn," Owen said.

This was only False Alarm's second show, but the crowd was responsive, said Garrett. "The community was super supportive," he noted. "Live music is universal and brings everyone together, and add in a fundraiser and that basically seals the deal."

The band was able to reach a wider audience thanks to two additional acts that performed in the concert as well. Cherry Alley, made up of EAHS students, and a local hip-hop artist who performs under the name WARST4R also entertained.

False Alarm's lineup also includes Adam Crick on bass guitar and Wyatt Stoltzfus on drums. The band has featured this lineup for about a year.

"We are a cover band that plays rock music by Foo Fighters, Greta Van Fleet, Paramore, etc.," said Wyatt, a junior who is the son of Todd and Mandi Stoltzfus of Elizabethtown. "Our band got the name 'False Alarm' because Garrett threw a water bottle in school at a fire alarm, and it went off."

Garrett, who is a sophomore and also the son of Neil Messick of Elizabethtown, explained that the water bottle incident occurred after he helped the tech crew at the middle school musical.

"I was throwing an empty plastic water bottle around, threw it towards a trash can and miraculously hit a fire alarm trigger five feet away down the hall," he recalled. "Long story short, it was a massive accident, interrupted a school pep rally and cemented my throwing skills as some of the worst in the school. So, if you ever see a water bottle on any of our T-shirts or a post online, now you know why."

On Nov. 19, the band members delivered the food and cash collected at the concert to Community Cupboard.

Steve Knox, director of Community Cupboard, said he was happy and impressed with the students' efforts and noted that their donations were greatly needed leading up to the winter.

"Donations really decline over the summer months, and their donations will help stock the shelves for several weeks," he remarked. "The E-town community is very generous and does support the Community Cupboard very well. But it is even more special when young people take the initiative to do a food drive to help those less fortunate in the community."

The band members worked for months to prepare for the concert, rehearsing their music and working on publicity.

"If you're ever trying to do something like this, all you need to do is get the word out," said Garrett, advising other students who might want to host a similar event. "Post about it. Hand out flyers. Make posters. Those are all things we do, and evidently it works."

Owen, who is the son of Chris and Beth Wagner of Elizabethtown, agreed that other students should support their community in this way.

"Definitely do it! It was one of the most fun things I've ever been a part of," he said. "We got to do something we really love doing - play music - and help support the community at the same time. All it takes is some time and dedication toward whatever event you're trying to plan. The details will fall into place along the way if you stay focused on your goal."