FOR YOUNG READERS

Community Helpers to the Rescue

Community Helpers are important persons in our towns and cities. This play shows how community helpers have improved our lives. What other community helpers can you name?

Cast of Characters

(Additional parts may be added)

Props: table, chairs

Costumes: characters can either dress their parts or wear tags that have their jobs printed on them.

Setting: a cabin interior many years ago.

Narrator: Long ago, groups of people built their homes near each other causing villages and towns to spring up. We now look in on one of these homes on a morning long ago.

Mother: Jane! Get a few eggs from the hen. Tim, you milk the cow.

Tim: (looking out the window) Here comes Dad with a deer. We will have meat tonight.

Mother: I must get busy and bake some bread.

Jane: I wish there was an easier way to get all the food we need at one time.

Tim: Yes. I wish... (They freeze.)

(Enter Grocer and Butcher.)

Grocer: Today, grocery stores and supermarkets supply people in a community with all kinds of food.

Butcher: People no longer need to raise animals, fish or hunt. Meat can easily be bought from a butcher.

Grocer & Butcher: We are community helpers.

(All exit. Father, Joe and Bill enter room.)

Father: Whew! (wipes his brow) I’m glad we finally got the fire out at the Jones’ house.

Joe: We could have used more pails.

Bill: And a few more men. The fire almost burned the Smith house, too!

Father: I wish there was a better way to put out big fires.

Joe & Bill: Yes, I wish... (They freeze.)

(Enter firefighters.)

Firefighter 1: Today we have fire stations in our towns and cities.

Firefighter 2: We are on call to fight fires day or night. We go to fires anywhere in the community and put them out.

Firefighters 1 & 2: We are community helpers.

(All exit. Grandma, Lucia and Rosa enter.)

Lucia: Robbers came to Emily’s house last night and took all their silver and coins!

Rosa: How dreadful! Has anyone caught the robbers?

Grandma: No, not yet. If they get away, they are almost never caught.

Lucia: I wish there was a way to catch robbers and bandits.

Rosa: Yes, I wish... (They freeze.)

(Enter police officers.)

Officer 1: Today we have police officers to help protect people and possessions in our towns and cities.

Officer 2: Police officers are friends to all people who obey the laws.

Officers 1 & 2: We are community helpers.

(All exit. Enter Papa and Dottie.)

Dottie: Father, David is very sick. We will need to stay near him all night until Dr. Black comes to our house. Mr. Olson went to get the doctor two hours ago.

Papa: We can take turns sitting with him through the night. Maybe Grandma’s special tea will help him get well.

Dottie: I sure wish there was a better way to help David.

Papa: Yes, I wish... (They freeze.)

(Enter doctor and nurse.)

Nurse: Today we have doctors and nurses to help sick and injured people.

Doctor: We work day and night to help people get well.

Nurse & Doctor: We are community helpers.

(All exit briefly.)

Narrator: Doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, grocers and butchers are not our only community helpers. We have many more!

(All other community helpers enter.)

Librarian: Librarians help people find the books people need.

Dentist: Dentists help keep our teeth in good condition.

Teacher: Teachers help students learn new things.

Letter Carrier: Letter carriers deliver mail in all kinds of weather.

Pilot: Pilots fly planes and take people and supplies to other places.

Musician: Musicians play beautiful music for all people to hear and enjoy.

Mechanic: Mechanics work on cars and trucks to keep them in good condition.

Judge: Judges work in courtrooms to help keep laws.

Farmer: Farmers raise food and animals to provide food for all people.

Carpenter: Carpenters build and repair homes and offices.

Clerk: Clerks work in stores to help people find the items they need.

(Enter all cast members.)

Everyone: There are many community helpers in our cities and towns who work day and night to help people. We are proud to be community helpers!

By Cheryl Owens
From Holiday Plays