Because hunger is a frightening thing, a group of Brentwood students is joining in a nationwide effort to collect food for kids in need.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the students from Heritage High School’s drama club Rising Stars will go door-to-door taking donations for the International Thespian Society’s nationwide community service initiative Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat.

Thousands of students across the United States are marshaling their energies to collect 325,000 pounds of food this year. All donations go to Shepherd’s Gate Shelter in Brentwood.

The students ask that on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 28, you put your non-perishable donations in a paper bag and leave it on your porch to be picked up between 5 and 7:30 p.m.

Suggested items to donate: Cooking oil, dishwashing liquid, dried beans, fruit snacks, Jell-O, jelly, instant mashed potatoes, oatmeal, pizza kit, tuna, Tuna Helper, Vienna sausages, laundry detergent, body wash, Jiffy mixes (any kind), cereal, canned chili, beef stew, ramen noodles, Cream of Wheat, taco dinners, pancake mix, spaghetti with sauce, peanut butter, soap, shampoo, applesauce, rice, crackers, cookies, soup, chicken and dumplings, Pop-Tarts, syrup, ravioli and hamburger helper.