By Carol Anders Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Two Plymouth High School seniors — with the help of many, many others —  are making differences in their community.
Camden Robertson and Jonathan Tyree recently played the part of Willy Wonka in the two-cast PHS production of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Although their performances were called outstanding, what they did at the end of the show was as equally exceptional.

When the curtain came down, they simply asked the audience to give a donation to the United Way that would be designated to the American Red Cross, Plymouth-Fulton Chapter.
At the conclusion of four performances, $1,188.54 had been collected.
This was Tyree’s second year to seek donations after a play. He is a youth board member of the local Red Cross Chapter. The original idea for taking up a free-will offering at the annual productions at PHS for the Red Cross came three years ago from Tyree’s sister, Nancy. She was also a youth board member of the Red Cross .
Robertson is also heading up another drive to help a United Way Agency. He, along with fellow Key Club members, are asking students at Lincoln Junior High, Riverside Intermediate, and Menominee, Webster, Jefferson and Washington Elementary Schools to bring in food and hygiene items for the Marshall County Food Pantry located in the Marshall County Neighborhood Center building.
Robertson said, “Last February, I was asked to video-tape the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Neighborhood Center fundraiser as a part of my broadcasting class. I began talking with Karen Barden, president of the Neighborhood Center board, about why they were holding the event.”  
According to Robertson, Barden shared that they are very grateful for donations at the holiday seasons, but want to make sure there are enough resources to help those in need throughout the year.
With the help of the PHS Key Club sponsor Michelle Tanner, Robertson began putting together committees. Now they routinely go to each school participating on the third Thursday of each month to collect the donations and take them to the Neighborhood Center Pantry.
“I want to make sure everyone is aware that I did not come up with this myself,” Robertson said. “The ladies at the Neighborhood Center came to me with the idea.”
Items being collected include:
Lincoln Junior High — Personal care products (soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.); Riverside Intermediate — paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, paper plates, napkins, etc); Menominee Elementary —  pastas (spaghetti, sauces, noodles, macaroni and cheese, rice etc.); Jefferson Elementary — canned fruit; Washington Elementary — canned vegetables;  and Webster Elementary — breakfast items (pop-tarts, cereals - hot and cold, etc.).
Plymouth Schools Superintendent Dan Tyree said, “Several years ago, we asked our students to get involved in United Way. We feel is it important to teach civic responsibility. I’ve been really proud of this year’s students who have taken leadership roles.”