The theme of this year's annual Thanksgiving assembly at Millburn Middle School was feeding the hungry.

It's a mission undertaken by MMS students in their monthly visits to the Morristown Soup Kitchen. John Rogers, MMS Guidance Coordinator, spoke to the assembled students on Wednesday about this important outreach program.

"The number of hungry people in New Jersey would fill Giant Stadium 9½ times," he told students.

He reminded them the people who are fed at the soup kitchen are not always homeless but people who may be trying to save their homes "Often a smile and a kind word may be just as important as the meal provided," he said.  Students then saw a short film about the Morristown Soup Kitchen and the work they do.

The Peer Leader Outreach Program (PLOP) organized a food collection at the school, and more than 50 decorated boxes of food were on display on the stage. As in years past, the food donations were taken by former school custodian Neville Clarke to his church where it is distributed it to needy families in Newark. Clarke was head custodian at the Middle School for 26 years and has returned each year since his retirement 12 years ago to accept the donations from the students.

The assembly also included a presentation of "America the Beautiful" by the MMS Wind Ensemble and the MMS Select Chorus and a finale by the Select Chorus performing "Rain Dance," a Native American song.

The PEACE-SOAR and MASH Peer Leader groups also contributed to the Thanksgiving project and assembly. The Peer Leader program at the middle school involves all eighth grade students in service projects.